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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Easy Gambas Pil Pil Recipe (Garlic & Chilli Prawns)

    Published: Feb 21, 2023 by Beth Sachs · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 5 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Gambas pil pil pin image for Pinterest.

    Gambas pil pil (or prawn pil pil) is an easy-to-make Spanish tapas dish made with fresh prawns, garlic, chilli, and extra-virgin olive oil.

    The dish gets its name from the sizzling sound the prawns make when they hit the hot oil.

    Gambas pil pil in a pan with salad and bread.

    The garlic and chilli prawns are delicious as part of a tapas spread or served as a quick and easy starter with crusty bread to mop up the delicious sauce.

    It's such a simple rustic dish, but incredibly tasty and flavourful.

    👩‍🍳 Love prawns? Try my prawn, avocado and mango salad too!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
    • 🛒 Ingredient notes
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 💭 Expert tips
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ Frequently asked questions
    • 😋 More prawn recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!

    • An easy prawn tapas recipe.
    • Quick to cook.
    • Tasty and delicious.
    • Perfect with crusty bread.

    🛒 Ingredient notes

    Ingredients for gambas pil pil

    Prawns - fresh raw king prawns or tiger prawns.

    Oil - a good quality extra-virgin olive oil for the best flavour.

    Butter - unsalted butter.

    Garlic - 3 large cloves, peeled and finely chopped.

    Chilli - half a red chilli, chopped. I keep the seeds in, but remove them if you prefer. You could also use ½ teaspoon of dried chilli flakes instead

    Lemon - juice of half a lemon helps lift the flavour of the sauce.

    Parsley - freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley for colour and garnish.

    Paprika - use smoked paprika or hot paprika.

    Salt & Pepper - sea salt and black pepper for seasoning.

    🔪 Instructions

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Heat the oil and butter in a frying pan on medium high heat until the butter has melted.

    Two: Cook the garlic and chilli for one minute, stirring with a wooden spoon.

    Three: Add the raw fresh prawns and cook until they turn pink. This should only take a few minutes.

    Four: Squeeze over the lemon juice and then sprinkle over the chopped parsley and smoked paprika. Season to taste before serving.

    Making pil pil prawns in a frying pan.

    💭 Expert tips

    • Use large, fresh, and deveined prawns for the best results.
    • Prawns cook quickly, so be careful not to overcook them. They should be pink and cooked through, but still tender and juicy.
    • Olive oil is an important part of the dish, so use a good quality extra-virgin olive oil for the best flavour.
    • Gambas Pil Pil is traditionally served in a clay (earthenware) dish with crusty bread for dipping, so make sure you have some on hand.

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    Serve with crusty bread or homemade focaccia, alongside other traditional tapas dishes (small plates) like patatas bravas, Spanish tortilla, goat's cheese salad, rocket salad, and roasted peppers.

    Garlic and chilli prawns (Gambas pil pil) in a black frying pan.

    📖 Variations

    • Swap the smoked paprika for sweet paprika, cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
    • For a heartier dish, add some diced chorizo sausage to the pan before cooking the prawns. The spicy and smoky flavour of the chorizo pairs well with the prawns and garlic.
    • If you prefer a creamier sauce, add some double cream after the prawns are cooked.
    • Garnish with chopped coriander instead of parsley.
    • Add a splash of white wine to the pan before you cook the prawns for a richer flavour.
    • Leave out the chilli and make Gambas al Ajillo instead (prawns with garlic).
    • Serve the garlic and chilli prawns over a bed of buttery spaghetti for a hearty main course.

    🥡 Storage

    Store - Gambas pil pil is best eaten fresh but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

    Reheat - Microwave until piping hot, or reheat in a frying pan on the hob.

    Freeze - Allow to cool and freeze for up to 2 months. Defrost in the fridge before reheating.

    Garlic and chilli prawns with a side of crusty bread.

    ❓ Frequently asked questions

    Can I make Gambas Pil Pil ahead of time?

    Gambas Pil Pil is best enjoyed immediately after cooking, but you can prepare the ingredients in advance and store them in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.

    Can I use a different type of seafood instead of prawns?

    Yes, you can use other types of seafood like scallops or squid. Adjust the cooking time accordingly to ensure that they're cooked through.

    Can I make Gambas Pil Pil without oil?

    No, oil is a key ingredient in this dish as it's used to cook the prawns, chilli, and garlic and create the sauce.

    What is pil pil in Spanish?

    "Pil Pil" is a Basque term that refers to the sauce or emulsion that forms when olive oil and the natural juices of seafood, like prawns, combine during cooking. In the case of Gambas Pil Pil, the dish gets its name from the garlic and chilli-infused olive oil sauce that forms as the prawns cook in the pan.

    Can I use pre-cooked prawns?

    Yes, just add them to the pan and mix them into the sauce and serve straight away.

    😋 More prawn recipes

    • Prawn Korma
    • Prawn Masala
    • Prawn Chow Mein
    • Prawn and Pea Risotto
    • Prawn and Chorizo Pasta
    Pil Pil Prawns with bread and salad.

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    Recipe

    Pil pil prawns in a black dish.
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    5 from 8 votes

    Easy Gambas Pil Pil (Garlic & Chilli Prawns)

    Gambas pil pil (or prawn pil pil) is an easy-to-make Spanish-inspired tapas dish made with fresh prawns, garlic, chilli, and extra-virgin olive oil.
    Course Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine Spanish
    Keyword gambas pil pil, gambas pilpil, pil pil prawns, prawns pil pil
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 8 minutes
    Total Time 13 minutes
    Servings 2
    Calories 344kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Chopping Board
    • Knife
    • Frying Pan
    • Wooden Spoon

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 2 tablespoon Butter
    • 2 tablespoon Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
    • 3 Garlic Cloves peeled and finely chopped
    • ½ Red Chilli finely chopped
    • 300 g Fresh King Prawns
    • ½ Lemon juice only
    • 2 tablespoon Parsley chopped
    • ¼ teaspoon Smoked Paprika or Hot Paprika
    • Salt & Pepper to season

    Instructions

    • Heat the oil and butter in a frying pan on medium high heat until the butter has melted.
      2 tablespoon Butter, 2 tablespoon Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
    • Cook the garlic and chilli for one minute, stirring with a wooden spoon.
      3 Garlic Cloves, ½ Red Chilli
    • Add the raw fresh prawns and cook until they turn pink. This should only take a few minutes.
      300 g Fresh King Prawns
    • Squeeze over the lemon juice and then sprinkle over the chopped parsley and smoked paprika. Season to taste before serving.
      ½ Lemon, 2 tablespoon Parsley, ¼ teaspoon Smoked Paprika, Salt & Pepper to season

    Notes

    Expert Tips:
    • Use large, fresh, and deveined prawns for the best results.
    • Prawns cook quickly, so be careful not to overcook them. They should be pink and cooked through, but still tender and juicy.
    • Use a good quality olive oil: The olive oil is an important part of the dish, so use a good quality extra-virgin olive oil for the best flavour.
    • Gambas Pil Pil is traditionally served in a clay dish with crusty bread for dipping, so make sure you have some on hand.
     
    Variations:
    • Swap the smoked paprika for sweet paprika, cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
    • For a heartier dish, add some diced chorizo sausage to the pan before cooking the prawns. The spicy and smoky flavour of the chorizo pairs well with the prawns and garlic.
    • If you prefer a creamier sauce, add some double cream after the prawns are cooked.
    • Garnish with chopped coriander instead of parsley.
    • Add a splash of white wine to the pan before you cook the prawns.
    • Leave out the chilli and make Gambas al Ajillo instead (prawns with garlic).
    • Serve the garlic and chilli prawns over a bed of buttery spaghetti for a hearty main course.
     
    Storage:
    Store - Gambas pil pil is best eaten fresh but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
    Reheat - Microwave until piping hot, or reheat in a frying pan on the hob.
    Freeze - Allow to cool and freeze for up to 2 months. Defrost in the fridge before reheating.
     
    Nutrition:
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Gambas Pil Pil (Garlic & Chilli Prawns)
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    344
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    23
    g
    35
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    19
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0.01
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    10
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    189
    mg
    63
    %
    Sodium
     
    854
    mg
    37
    %
    Potassium
     
    301
    mg
    9
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    11
    g
    4
    %
    Fiber
     
    1
    g
    4
    %
    Sugar
     
    1
    g
    1
    %
    Protein
     
    25
    g
    50
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    852
    IU
    17
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    38
    mg
    46
    %
    Calcium
     
    123
    mg
    12
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @effortlessf00d on Instagram or Twitter

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tayler

      February 21, 2023 at 2:54 pm

      5 stars
      I adore shrimp, and I can't wait to make this dish for dinner tonight! I already have everything I need!

      Reply
    2. Dana

      February 21, 2023 at 3:08 pm

      5 stars
      These are so perfectly buttery and garlicky! Perfect with a nice big hunk of fresh bread.

      Reply
    3. Michelle

      February 21, 2023 at 3:16 pm

      5 stars
      We just got back from Spain, and I'm so excited to make these at home!

      Reply
    4. Chenée

      February 21, 2023 at 3:39 pm

      5 stars
      The shrimp looks incredible. And I know that the smoked paprika has to add so much flavor!

      Reply
    5. Stephanie

      February 21, 2023 at 4:13 pm

      5 stars
      That looks delicious! I love the added spice!

      Reply

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    Beth Sachs Food Blogger

    Hi, I’m Beth, a Mum of three (and one crazy dog), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

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