🦐 Garlic Prawn Claypots on the BBQ with Jack the Greek 🧄

🦐 Garlic Prawn Claypots on the BBQ 🧄


Today we're taking one of the all-time great pub favourites and giving it the full BBQ treatment. We're talking juicy prawns, sizzling away in a traditional claypot, swimming in garlic and extra virgin olive oil that's begging to be mopped up with some crusty bread.

The beauty of cooking this way is the even heat. It gets that claypot bubbling away beautifully without scorching the garlic, allowing all those flavours to come together into something truly special. This is one of those dishes that looks impressive, takes very little effort, and always gets people gathering around the BBQ asking when it's ready.

The alternative is using an outdoor kitchen side burner, which again gets that claypot bubbling away beautifully.

Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4 as a starter or side dish

Ingredients

For the Garlic Prawns

  • 500g banana prawns (raw or cooked)
  • 500-600ml Koronieki or Biologico extra virgin olive oil 
  • 8-10 cloves garlic, sliced thickly
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 fresh red chilli
  • 2 tsp sea salt 
  • Freshly cracked black pepper (optional)

For Serving

  • Crusty bread or baguette
  • Extra sea salt (optional)

Method

Prepare the BBQ

  • Preheat your BBQ with all burners on high.
  • Place two small clay pots onto the cooking surface, or prepare the side burner.

Jack's Tip: This recipe showcases the versatility of the BBQ. You can cook directly on the grill, use the rotisserie, cook on the warming rack or even use clay pots like we're doing today.

Add the Olive Oil

  • Pour approximately 500-600ml of extra virgin olive oil into each clay pot.
  • The oil should be deep enough to cover the prawns once added
    TIP:  Adjust quantity of oil depending on size of pop
  • Place the clay pots onto the BBQ and allow the oil to heat for approximately 3-4 minutes.

Jack's Tip: The oil should be hot but not smoking.

Add the Garlic

  • Once the oil is hot, add the sliced garlic.
  • You should immediately hear a gentle sizzle.
  • Reduce the heat slightly and cook the garlic briefly.
  • Do not allow it to brown.
  • The garlic should become fragrant and lightly golden.

Add the Prawns

  • Add the prawns directly into the hot garlic-infused oil.
  • If using raw prawns, cook until they turn pink and opaque.
  • If using cooked prawns, simply warm them through while allowing them to absorb the garlic and olive oil flavours.
  • Leave the heat on medium-high and gently stir.

Season the Prawns

  • Sprinkle over sea salt and fresh parsley, and add a whole chilli to one of the clay pots for a little extra heat.
  • Stir gently to distribute the seasoning.

Allow the Flavours to Infuse

  • Let the prawns simmer in the oil for another 1-2 minutes.
  • The olive oil, garlic, parsley and chilli will combine to create a rich dipping sauce.

Grill the Bread

  • Slice the bread into serving-sized pieces.
  • Place directly onto the grill.
  • Toast for approximately 30 seconds per side until lightly charred.

Serve

  • Carefully remove the clay pots from the BBQ and arrange alongside the grilled bread.
  • Serve immediately while still bubbling hot.