Fish & Seafood Meat & Game Sides & Snacks

Friday Night Prawns with Pancetta

Name: Friday Night Prawns with Pancetta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 400 g Prawns (butterflied); 50 g Pancetta (cubed); 4 Garlic (cloves, peeled and crushed); 1 tbsp Chilli Oil; 1 Lemon (zest and juice); 2 tbsp White Wine; 1 tsp Chilli Flakes; Fresh Parsley

Quick, flavourful prawns cooked with crispy pancetta, garlic, chilli, and lemon. Perfect for a relaxed Friday night dinner with crusty bread and wine.

4.8 (4 reviews)

• By Ricky Robinson • Updated May 26, 2023

When you need a quick meal at the end of a busy week, this recipe fits the bill perfectly. It comes together in about fifteen minutes using just a handful of ingredients, letting you relax with a proper dinner straight from the pan.

The bright lemon cuts through the richness of the prawns and savoury pancetta beautifully. The combination of chilli, garlic, and a splash of white wine adds depth without being complicated. You don't need to be fancy about it, just heat your pan and cook everything in stages. The pancetta crisps up first, then the garlic softens, and finally the prawns cook through in a matter of minutes.

This is the kind of dish that proves you don't need hours in the kitchen to eat well at the end of a long week.

Friday Night Prawns with Pancetta recipe image

The key is not to overcook the prawns. They only need a few minutes over high heat, just until they turn opaque. If you leave them too long, they become rubbery and lose that tender bite you want. Keep an eye on them and have everything ready before you start cooking, since it all moves quite quickly once the pan is hot.

Serving this straight from the skillet keeps it informal and relaxed, which suits a Friday night perfectly. Get some good crusty bread to mop up the garlicky, lemony pan juices, and pour yourself a glass of something cold. The whole thing feels effortless, which is exactly what you need after a busy week. It's satisfying without being heavy, and the flavours are bright enough to wake up your palate without overwhelming it. Simple ingredients, properly cooked, letting each one do its job.