If you are craving a dish that bursts with bold flavor and irresistible succulence, look no further than the Garlic Confit Butter Butterflied BBQ Prawns for Epic Flavor Recipe. This recipe takes juicy prawns and elevates them by coating them in a rich, aromatic garlic confit butter, then grilling them to smoky perfection. Each bite delivers a wonderful harmony of buttery smoothness, subtle heat from chili flakes, and a deep umami punch from anchovies, making it a truly unforgettable BBQ experience. Whether you’re cooking for friends or simply treating yourself, these prawns are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that you will love returning to time and time again.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering the right ingredients is key to capturing the full essence of this Garlic Confit Butter Butterflied BBQ Prawns for Epic Flavor Recipe. Each element is thoughtfully selected to complement the prawns and build layers of flavor, from the aromatic garlic confit to the fresh parsley finishing touch.
- 500 g prawns: Choose fresh Tiger or large prawns in the shell for the best flavor and texture.
- 250 g Westgold salted butter: Use room temperature butter for easy blending into a smooth, savory sauce.
- 20 cloves garlic confit: This adds a sweet, mellow garlic flavor that enhances the prawns beautifully.
- 1 tsp dried chili flakes: Adds a touch of heat to the dish, balancing the richness of the butter.
- 6 anchovy fillets: These bring a deep, umami flavor that elevates the overall taste without being fishy.
- 1 pinch salt: Enhances all the flavors in this delicious garlic confit butter.
- 1 tbsp finely diced fresh parsley: Adds a pop of color and fresh herbaceousness to complement the dish.
How to Make Garlic Confit Butter Butterflied BBQ Prawns for Epic Flavor Recipe
Step 1: Preparing the Prawns
Begin by choosing beautiful, fresh prawns – Tiger prawns work wonderfully. Butterfly each prawn carefully by cutting along the backbone while keeping the tail and head intact. This technique exposes the juicy flesh and helps it cook evenly. Remove the vein with gentle care and lightly season each prawn with a pinch of salt to allow the flavors to start melding.
Step 2: Creating the Garlic Confit Butter
The heart of this Garlic Confit Butter Butterflied BBQ Prawns for Epic Flavor Recipe lies in its luscious butter. Combine room-temperature Westgold salted butter with garlic confit cloves, dried chili flakes, anchovy fillets, and a pinch of salt in a food processor. Blend until super smooth and perfectly combined. This savory butter base marries sweetness, heat, and umami for an unforgettable sauce.
Step 3: Coating the Prawns
Next, generously brush the garlic confit butter mixture over the exposed flesh of each butterflied prawn. Ensure every nook and cranny is bathed in this flavor-packed butter. Any leftover butter? Keep it aside for serving so everyone can enjoy that rich, buttery goodness as a dipping sauce later.
Step 4: Preheating the BBQ
Prepare your barbecue by igniting it and setting the temperature high, aiming for a sizzling 200 degrees Celsius on the grill side. Closing the lid while preheating creates the perfect environment for mouthwatering searing and smoky flavor that is essential to this Garlic Confit Butter Butterflied BBQ Prawns for Epic Flavor Recipe.
Step 5: Grilling the Prawns
Place the prawns on the grill flesh side down and close the lid gently. Let them cook undisturbed for about 2 minutes, allowing the flesh to turn a beautiful pink with inviting char marks. This step seals in all the rich garlic butter flavor and gives the prawns that classic BBQ smokiness that makes your taste buds sing.
Step 6: Flipping and Finishing on the Grill
With care, flip the prawns over using metal tongs and close the lid again. Grill for another 1 to 2 minutes to char the shell slightly and ensure even cooking. Once finished, remove them from the BBQ and let them rest for a moment to lock in all those incredible flavors.
Step 7: Preparing the Finishing Butter Sauce
While the prawns rest, melt any reserved garlic confit butter in a small saucepan over gentle heat until it froths delightfully. Stir in the finely diced fresh parsley last minute to add a fresh, vibrant kick. This final buttery drizzle will take your Garlic Confit Butter Butterflied BBQ Prawns for Epic Flavor Recipe to extraordinary heights.
Step 8: Serve and Enjoy!
Pour two tablespoons of the fragrant garlic butter sauce over your grilled prawns and serve the rest in a small dipping dish. Encourage everyone to peel the prawns and dunk them richly into the warm, savory butter for maximum indulgence. This is a dish made for sharing and savoring every bite.
How to Serve Garlic Confit Butter Butterflied BBQ Prawns for Epic Flavor Recipe
Garnishes
Keep it simple and fresh by garnishing your prawns with a sprinkle of extra finely chopped parsley and perhaps a wedge of lemon for zest. These little touches enhance the beautiful golden butter and add brightness that balances the rich flavors wonderfully.
Side Dishes
This Garlic Confit Butter Butterflied BBQ Prawns for Epic Flavor Recipe pairs beautifully with light, crisp side dishes like a fresh garden salad, grilled asparagus, or buttery garlic bread. You can also serve with fluffy white rice or creamy polenta to soak up every savory drop of that garlic butter sauce.
Creative Ways to Present
For a stunning presentation, serve these prawns on a large wooden board or tray lined with fresh herbs and lemon slices. Alternatively, place the prawns over a bed of wilted spinach or buttery noodles to transform this simple seafood dish into an elegant centerpiece that’s sure to wow your guests.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you happen to have leftovers of the Garlic Confit Butter Butterflied BBQ Prawns for Epic Flavor Recipe, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep well for up to 2 days. To preserve the texture, avoid stacking prawns to prevent them from becoming too soggy.
Freezing
While fresh is best for this prawn dish, you can freeze the cooked prawns if needed. Place them in a freezer-safe container or bag with some of the buttery sauce to protect them. Freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating gently.
Reheating
Reheat leftover prawns gently in a skillet over low heat with a splash of butter or olive oil to prevent drying out. Avoid microwaving as it can make the prawns rubbery. Warm until heated through, then drizzle with extra fresh garlic butter for that just-grilled taste.
FAQs
Can I use frozen prawns for this recipe?
While fresh prawns are ideal for the best texture and flavor, you can use properly thawed frozen prawns. Just make sure to pat them dry before butterflying and grilling to avoid excess moisture.
Is it necessary to butterfly the prawns?
Butterflying the prawns ensures they cook evenly and quickly, and exposes more surface area to absorb that amazing garlic butter. It also makes them easier to eat once grilled. So yes, it’s highly recommended.
Can I make the garlic confit butter in advance?
Absolutely! The garlic confit butter can be prepared and stored in the fridge for up to a week. This makes for a quick weeknight meal since all you have to do is brush and grill the prawns.
What if I don’t have anchovy fillets?
If anchovies are not your thing, you can omit them, but they do add a subtle umami depth that’s hard to replicate. Alternatively, a splash of Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce can be a gentle substitute.
How spicy is this recipe?
The recipe has a mild heat thanks to the dried chili flakes, balanced by the buttery richness. Feel free to adjust the chili amount to suit your spice preference, or leave it out if you prefer no heat.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely encourage you to try the Garlic Confit Butter Butterflied BBQ Prawns for Epic Flavor Recipe next time you want to impress with minimal fuss but maximum impact. It’s an elegant yet simple way to celebrate seafood, full of bold, exciting flavors that are sure to leave everyone craving more. Once you’ve had these prawns grilled and slathered in that luscious garlic butter, you’ll wonder why you didn’t make them sooner!
Print
Garlic Confit Butter Butterflied BBQ Prawns for Epic Flavor Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: BBQ/Seafood
Description
These Garlic Confit Butter Butterflied BBQ Prawns are a sensational dish packed with rich, savory flavors. Fresh tiger prawns are butterflied and coated in a luscious garlic confit butter sauce infused with chili flakes and anchovies, then grilled to perfection for a smoky, tender bite. Finished with a fresh parsley garnish and served with extra garlic butter for dipping, this recipe promises an epic seafood experience ideal for BBQ lovers.
Ingredients
Seafood
- 500 g prawns (fresh tiger or large prawns in the shell)
Garlic Confit Butter Sauce
- 250 g Westgold salted butter (room temperature)
- 20 cloves garlic confit
- 1 tsp dried chili flakes
- 6 anchovy fillets
- 1 pinch salt
Garnish
- 1 tbsp finely diced fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preparation: Begin by preparing your ingredients and ensure the prawns are cleaned and ready for butterflying.
- Butterfly the prawns: Carefully cut down the backbone of each prawn keeping the tail and head intact. Remove the vein and gently press the prawns flat to expose the flesh. Lightly season with a pinch of salt and set aside to allow the flavors to meld.
- Blend the butter: In a food processor, combine room temperature Westgold salted butter, garlic confit cloves, dried chili flakes, anchovy fillets, and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth and well combined, creating a rich and flavorful garlic confit butter.
- Brush with flavor: Generously brush the prepared garlic butter onto the flesh of the butterflied prawns, making sure each prawn is thoroughly coated. Reserve any leftover butter for serving as a dipping sauce later.
- Preheat the BBQ: Light your barbecue and set the grill to high heat, aiming for approximately 200°C with the lid closed. This ensures the grill is hot enough to impart a perfect smoky char.
- Grill the prawns: Open the lid and place the prawns flesh side down on the hot grill grate. Close the lid and cook for 2 minutes, until the flesh turns pink and develops a slight char, enhancing the smoky flavor.
- Flip and finish: Using metal tongs, carefully flip the prawns over and close the lid again. Grill for an additional 1 to 2 minutes until the prawns are thoroughly cooked and slightly charred on the other side. Remove from the grill and let them rest briefly.
- Prepare the garnishing butter: While the prawns rest, melt the remaining garlic confit butter until it bubbles and froths. Stir in the freshly diced parsley to add a fragrant, fresh herbaceous note to the buttery sauce.
- Serve and enjoy: Drizzle about 2 tablespoons of the warm garlic butter sauce over the grilled prawns. Serve the rest on the side as a dipping sauce. Encourage diners to peel the prawns and dip them generously for a rich, savory flavor experience.
Notes
- Use fresh tiger prawns or large shell-on prawns for the best texture and flavor.
- Garlic confit adds a mellowized sweetness to the garlic flavor compared to raw garlic.
- Anchovies impart umami without overpowering the dish — do not omit.
- Be careful not to overcook the prawns: they become tough and rubbery if grilled too long.
- Room temperature butter blends more smoothly when making the garlic confit butter mixture.
- Serve immediately after grilling for optimal taste and texture.
- If you do not have a BBQ, a grill pan on the stovetop can be used as an alternative.
