Description
Deliciously crispy and flavorful air fryer prawns cooked to perfection in minutes. This quick and easy recipe features large prawns tossed with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and lemon juice, then air fried for a healthy, satisfying dish perfect as an appetizer or main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood
- 1 lb large prawns (or shrimp), peeled and deveined
Seasoning & Marinade
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
- Juice of ½ lemon
Garnish
- Chopped parsley or cilantro (optional)
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the prawns: In a bowl, toss the peeled and deveined prawns with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, chili flakes if using, and the juice of half a lemon until they are evenly coated with the marinade.
- Preheat the air fryer: Heat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for about 3 minutes to ensure it’s hot and ready to cook the prawns evenly and quickly.
- Air fry the prawns: Arrange the prawns in a single layer in the air fryer basket. It’s important not to overcrowd the basket, so cook in batches if necessary. Air fry for 6 to 8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking process to promote even crisping. The prawns are done when they turn pink, opaque, and have slightly crisp edges.
- Serve: Remove the prawns from the air fryer and serve immediately. Garnish with chopped parsley or cilantro and lemon wedges on the side for an extra burst of freshness and flavor.
Notes
- This recipe works perfectly as a quick appetizer or as a filling for tacos.
- Great served over salads or rice for a light meal.
- Feel free to experiment with different seasoning blends like Cajun or Old Bay to change up the flavors.
