Prawn Marinara Recipe: Quick and Easy Italian-Style Dish

If you're looking for a quick and easy dinner recipe, you can't go wrong with a prawn marinara. This classic Italian dish is made with fresh prawns and a rich tomato sauce, and it's sure to be a hit with the whole family. Whether you're an experienced cook or a beginner, this recipe is simple to make and packed with flavour.

To make a prawn marinara, you'll need a few key ingredients, including fresh prawns, garlic, tomatoes, and herbs. Once you've gathered your ingredients, it's just a matter of cooking them together in a pan and serving with your favourite pasta. You can also customise the recipe to your liking by adding extra vegetables or spices.

If you're looking for inspiration for your next meal, a prawn marinara is a great option. This dish is easy to make, packed with flavour, and perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Whether you're sharing your creations on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook, your followers are sure to be impressed with your culinary skills.

Key Takeaways

• Prawn marinara is a classic Italian dish that's easy to make and packed with flavour.
• The key ingredients for prawn marinara include fresh prawns, garlic, tomatoes, and herbs.
• This dish is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner and can be customised to your liking by adding extra vegetables or spices.

Ingredients and Preparation

Selecting the Best Ingredients

To make the perfect prawn marinara recipe, you need to select the best quality ingredients. Fresh prawns are the best choice, but if you can't find them, you can also use frozen prawns. Just make sure to thaw them before cooking. Look for plump, firm, and pink prawns with no black spots or foul smell.

For the marinara sauce, use San Marzano tomatoes, which are sweeter and less acidic than regular tomatoes. Fresh basil leaves and garlic add great flavor to the sauce. You can also add dried oregano and red pepper flakes for extra spice.

Preparing the Prawns

Before cooking the prawns, make sure to peel and devein them. To do this, remove the head and shell of the prawns, then make a shallow cut along the back to expose the vein. Use a toothpick or the tip of a knife to pull out the vein.

To cook the prawns, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the prawns and cook for 2-3 minutes until they turn pink and opaque. Drain the prawns and rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking process.

Making the Marinara Sauce

To make the marinara sauce, heat extra-virgin olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and garlic and sauté until soft and fragrant. Add crushed tomatoes, sugar, salt, and pepper and bring to a simmer. Cook for 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens.

Add the cooked prawns to the sauce and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until heated through. Serve the prawn marinara over fresh pasta and garnish with fresh basil leaves and grated Parmesan cheese.

Cooking and Serving

Combining Ingredients

To start cooking your prawn marinara recipe, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.

While the spaghetti is cooking, heat your marinara sauce in a separate saucepan. Once heated, add the prawns and cook for 2-3 minutes until they turn pink. Add a splash of white wine and a knob of butter to the pan and let it simmer for a few minutes.

Next, add the cooked spaghetti to the saucepan with the prawns and marinara sauce. Toss the spaghetti with the sauce until it is evenly coated.

Final Touches and Plating

Before serving, add some chopped Italian parsley, kosher salt, and freshly grated parmesan cheese to the spaghetti. You can also add some fresh basil leaves for an extra burst of flavour.

To plate, divide the spaghetti and prawn marinara sauce evenly among four plates. Serve with a side of crusty bread or garlic bread and a caesar salad.

Tips for Perfect Texture

To ensure that your spaghetti is cooked to perfection, make sure to cook it until it is al dente. This means that it should be cooked through but still have a bit of bite to it. Overcooked spaghetti can become mushy and ruin the texture of your dish.

To make your marinara sauce thicker, you can let it simmer for longer. This will allow the sauce to reduce and thicken up. Alternatively, you can add a bit of tomato paste to the sauce to thicken it up.

If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. You can also freeze the leftovers for up to three months. Just make sure to reheat the spaghetti and prawn marinara sauce slowly to avoid overcooking the prawns.

For those following a gluten-free diet, you can use gluten-free spaghetti instead of regular spaghetti. Just make sure to check the packaging for any hidden sources of gluten.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I make a simple prawn marinara at home?

Making a simple prawn marinara at home is easy and straightforward. Start by heating some olive oil in a pan and sautéing some garlic and onions until they are soft and fragrant.

Add some canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity. Let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes before adding some prawns and cooking them until they turn pink. Serve the prawn marinara over spaghetti or your favourite pasta.

What's the secret to a creamy seafood marinara sauce?

The secret to a creamy seafood marinara sauce is adding some cream or half-and-half to the tomato sauce. Once you have cooked the garlic and onions, add some canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and a pinch of sugar.

Let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes before adding some cream or half-and-half. Stir well and let the sauce cook for another 5-10 minutes until it thickens. Finally, add your favourite seafood and cook until it is cooked through.

Could you suggest a way to prepare an authentic Italian spaghetti marinara?

To prepare an authentic Italian spaghetti marinara, you will need some fresh tomatoes, garlic, onions, and olive oil. Start by heating some olive oil in a pan and sautéing some garlic and onions until they are soft and fragrant.

Add some fresh tomatoes and let them cook for about 10 minutes until they start to break down. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook your spaghetti according to the package instructions and toss it with the tomato sauce. Serve with some grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

What are the must-have ingredients for the best prawn marinara?

The must-have ingredients for the best prawn marinara are prawns, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, onions, olive oil, and some herbs and spices like basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes. You can also add some white wine or cream to the sauce to make it richer and more flavourful.

How do I create a delicious spaghetti marinara with white sauce?

To create a delicious spaghetti marinara with white sauce, start by making a basic white sauce with butter, flour, and milk. Melt some butter in a pan and whisk in some flour until it forms a paste. Slowly add some milk and whisk continuously until the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

In a separate pan, sauté some garlic and onions until they are soft and fragrant. Add some canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and a pinch of sugar. Let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes before adding the white sauce. Stir well and let the sauce cook for another 5-10 minutes until it thickens. Finally, cook your spaghetti according to the package instructions and toss it with the tomato and white sauce.

What are some tips for enhancing the flavour of marinara sauce?

To enhance the flavour of marinara sauce, try adding some red wine, balsamic vinegar, or Worcestershire sauce to the sauce. You can also use fresh herbs like basil, oregano, or thyme to add some depth of flavour.

Another tip is to sauté the garlic and onions until they are caramelized and golden brown, as this will add a rich and sweet flavour to the sauce. Finally, don't forget to season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.