Steamed Prawns with Garlic
First posted in Jul 2010, updated in Feb 2017.
Steamed Prawns with Garlic is a very simple homely dish. Chinese restaurants always charge a premium for seafood dishes. The home-made version costs a small fraction of what the restaurants are charging.
See Also:
- Tutorial: How to Butterfly Prawns
- Beer-steamed Prawns Recipe
- Steamed Cockles with Garlic Recipe
- Delicious Prawn Recipes
Besides being cheaper, this is one dish you can cook at home easily and quickly, since prawns cook really fast (less than 5 minutes).
If you love garlic as much as I do, you will understand the amount of garlic I used in this dish. But if you find that the garlic is too much or spicy for your liking, you can reduce the amount according to taste. For best results, use fresh garlic and chop them yourself, instead of using instant bottled garlic. Also try to use bigger prawns for this dish because it will be easier to butterfly them and to stuff the garlic mixture into the cavity. See the step-by-step pictures below.
Step-by-Step Photos
Clean and butterfly the prawns by making a top slit across the back to the tail end of the prawn, removing the veins, and cutting a little deeper to make a cavity. Click here for detailed step-by-step pics.
Drizzle Chinese wine over the prawns cavity.
In this dish, the garlic is the star. So for best results, use freshly chopped garlic (I used an electric chopper as a short-cut).
Prepare the garlic mixture in a small bowl.
Fill the prawns cavity with the garlic mixture.
These are what the garlic-stuffed prawns look like, before steaming.
Steam over high heat until the prawns are cooked (just a few minutes; do not overcook). Garnish with coriander and serve.
gorgeous! this dish is a classic here. i am not a huge fan of steamed garlic (so normally i removed all the garlic before consumption)…but of cos it is nice to learn how to make this dish in case SC wants it :D heheh
Love garlic! Quick and delicious dish … I will need my chili sauce for dipping :D
Hmm…I love this type of dish. Simple to cook and taste really fresh.
Hey Wiffy. Were you back from holiday? I love garlic and prawn! Same with Lia, I need my chili sauce.
Pepy, I’m still on holiday till next week. I prepared the post in advance hehehe
Simple yet tasty! I love garlic in my food. Steamed cod fillet with garlic is also great.
I have to try that some day … I usually just pan fry cod fish.
Oh my, oh my. I think we’ve got a winner here! ;) Very well done, Wiffy!
Thanks Ju, you’re too kind :)
wow I love steamed butterfly prawns with lots of minced garlic…oh man…the sight of these pictures just makes me so hungry!
You are really generous with the garlic, which I like a lot. I also love making light, steamed dish during summer. Enjoy your vacation : ).
This look so yummy and healthy! Will definitely try this and bento it for lunch. Emm.. Not sure if it’ll be as nice when eaten cold.
Beautiful! Must be so so tasty with that amount of garlic!