Gambas Pil Pil (Spanish Chilli Garlic Prawns)

Whether you are looking for an easy tapas dish, a low-carb appetizer, or simply love cooking with juicy prawns, this Gambas Pil Pil recipe is for you! Popular in Spanish tapas bars and all over the world, these garlic and chilli prawns are one of those tapas recipes that everyone can make in their own kitchen in under 10 minutes! Serve it with a chunk of crusty bread to mop up that spicy chilli garlic oil! (it's the best bit)!

Jump to:

• Short History: What Is Prawn Pil Pil?
• Ingredients and Substitutes
• What Prawns To Use For Gambas Pil Pil?
• How To Clean Prawns?
• Tips on How To Cook Pil Pil Prawns
• Step-By-Step Method
• Recipe FAQs
• Reader Review
• Serving Suggestions
• What To Serve With Garlic Prawns?
• Storage & Reheating
• Other Delicious Prawn Recipes
• Gambas Pil Pil (Spanish Chilli Garlic Prawns)

Loving the flavours of olive oil, garlic and chilli? Try our Spaghetti Aglio Olio e Peperoncino as well as our Garlic Chilli Prawn Pasta next.

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Short History: What Is Prawn Pil Pil?

Gambas Pil Pil recipe (also known as Gambas al Pil Pil or Shrimp Pil Pil) is an easy classic Spanish tapa dish that can be found in any tapas bar around the world! Succulent prawns are cooked on medium-high heat in a large frying pan with oil, lots of garlic and hot peppers, then served in small plates as part of a large spread of dishes. It is a great dish to serve as an appetizer too!

This famous chilli garlic prawn recipe seemingly has a few regions that claim it as their own. Some claim that its roots are in the Basque country (North Spain), while others say it is a quintessentially Andalusian (Southern Spain) dish. These days, these delicious chilli prawns are popular not only across Spain, but all over the world, and are becoming part of International cuisine.

What Does Gambas Pil Pil Mean in Spanish?

The Spanish word gambas literally means prawns. The meaning of pil pil is a little more complicated, but in Spanish cuisine (particularly Basque cuisine) it is used to describe garlic and chilli-infused oil. Whilst the actual meaning is unclear, some food historians speculate that the word originated to describe the popping sound of sliced garlic hitting hot olive oil.

Ingredients and Substitutes

You will need 5 main ingredients and a couple of things for garnish to make the most delicious (and possibly one of the most famous) Spanish prawn tapas dish.

• prawns: we used frozen (defrosted) raw jumbo king prawns, but read all about the best prawns to use for prawn pil pil in the section below.
• olive oil: make sure not to use extra virgin olive oil, as it is not suitable for cooking on high heat.
• garlic cloves: one large fresh garlic clove should be used per portion.
• red chilli peppers: choose fresh chilli pepper based on your spice preference and adjust the amount of chilli used. We used deseeded red jalapeno peppers for a milder dish. You may also choose to use dried chilli flakes (red pepper flakes).
• paprika: this gambas pil pil recipe works well with both sweet Spanish paprika and smoked paprika (who doesn't like a bit of smoky flavour, right?). We particularly enjoy Santo Domingo Sweet Smoked Paprika. If you wish, add some chilli powder too for a bit of heat. 
• parsley: fresh parsley is used as a garnish on top and adds to both the aesthetic appeal and flavour of the dish. Alternatively, use spring onion greens. 
• sea salt and black pepper.
• lemon: a wedge of lemon squeezed over these Spanish prawns is a delicious way to introduce extra flavour, but it is entirely optional.

Find all the quantities in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. 

What Prawns To Use For Gambas Pil Pil?

Let's get one thing out of the way, the words shrimp and prawn are often used interchangeably (although scientifically they are different crustaceans), but what you are looking for are large succulent prawns/ shrimp, that typically have king or jumbo as a prefix. Larger prawns will be more succulent and won't overcook as quickly.

You need good quality uncooked prawns (not pre-cooked prawns) for this recipe so that they can infuse with the flavours of garlic and chilli of the delicious sauce during the cooking process.

Whilst it is always best to use fresh prawns, and deshell and clean them yourself, we understand that it can be a bit overwhelming. Therefore, we highly recommend using either fully prepared fresh prawns or simply thawed frozen raw prawns in this recipe. That's the option we often take, and we can recommend Jumbo King Prawns from ALDI UK freezer isles.

How To Clean Prawns?

If you do, however, choose to make this prawn pil pil recipe with fresh king prawns in their shells, here are the steps you need to take to prepare them for cooking.

1. Place the prawns in a colander and run lots of cold water through them.
2. Inspect your prawns and remove any discoloured and unhealthy-looking crustaceans.
3. Pull the heads away from the body in one quick and firm movement.
4. The easiest way to detach the shell of the prawn is to slide your index finger under the shell and lift the flesh gently, moving your finger under the shell sideways.
5. Devein the prawns with the tip of the knife, by pulling the black line (intestinal tract) that runs down the back of the prawn and discard it.
6. Pull the tail off gently.
7. Rinse the prepared prawns in cold water and pat them dry with a piece of kitchen towel.

You are now ready to cook your Chilli Garlic Prawns!

Tips on How To Cook Pil Pil Prawns

This Prawns Pil Pil recipe is extremely easy to make, but if it's your first time making it, these tips may help:

• Use a frying pan that is just large enough to fit all the prawns in a single layer. This way you will not need to use more oil. You need enough oil to just have the prawns submerged.
• Make sure to use olive oil (not the extra virgin type). Extra virgin oil is not suitable for cooking on high heat and will smoke and produce a bitter taste.
• Heat the oil until hot but not smoky before adding the prawns.
• Pil Pil prawns cook quickly on high or medium heat, so watch them!
• Only add garlic, chilli and paprika halfway through cooking to prevent them from burning. Garlic should only be light golden brown for the best flavour. 

Step-By-Step Method

Prepare all your ingredients first, as this recipe moves fast (everything cooks in a matter of minutes). Slice the cloves of garlic, chop the fresh chillies finely, and prepare the garnishes, by cutting a wedge of lemon and finely chopping the parsley.

STEP 1: Pour the olive oil into a frying pan and set it over medium high heat. Once hot (but not smoking), add the prawns to hot oil and cook them for a couple of minutes (cooking time will depend on the size of the prawns), without stirring.

STEP 2: Add the garlic, red chillies and paprika powder and stir, turning the prawns on the other side as you go, and carry on cooking for another 1-2 minutes.

STEP 3: Using a spoon, take the prawns out of the oil into a serving dish (Gambas Pil Pil are traditionally served in a clay pot), pour the chilli garlic oil over them and sprinkle the top with a little bit of sea salt and pepper. Scatter the chopped parsley on top and garnish with a lemon wedge.

Squeeze the lemon juice over and serve warm with crusty bread! Ahhh, utter satisfaction...

Recipe FAQs

Serving Suggestions

Gambas Pil Pil is a very popular Spanish Tapas dish, and is often served as a part of a spread, alongside other Spanish food classics and favourite tapas dishes, like olives, cured meats, like Serrano Ham, cheese and croquetas. All the dishes are typically served in earthenware dish, like terracotta pots, and shared amongst friends and family.

So make this recipe part of your Spanish tapas feast! Alternatively, it is a perfect dish to serve as a simple appetizer. 

How To Make Spanish Prawn Tapas Into An Easy Dinner?

Whilst it is unconventional to serve King Prawn Pil Pil as a main course, you can absolutely make it into a main meal. Serve these Chilli Garlic Prawns:

• Over stir-fried vegetable noodles.
• Over a bowlful of spaghetti.
• Over simple boiled/ steamed rice with a side of green vegetables.

What To Serve With Garlic Prawns?

Spanish juicy garlic prawns have a lot of beautiful chilli and garlic-infused oil all over them, so would be a shame to waste it, right? Slice a freshly baked loaf of crusty sourdough bread, or a baguette and dip that bread in chilli oil - it's the best part! Or you can go a step further and serve these prawns with Olive and Garlic Sourdough Bread.

Alternatively, serve the prawns with a couple of side salads and green veggies. We particularly like our Tenderstem Broccoli and Courgette Ribbon Salad to go with them.

Storage & Reheating

Unfortunately, like with other prawn recipes, this Gambas Pil Pil recipe is best served freshly made. Whilst it is safe to store prawns in oil in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 48 hours, we would not recommend reheating this dish. Prawns will overcook, and reheated oil will have a bitter taste.

Since this simple dish takes 10 minutes to make from start to finish, the best way to serve it is freshly made for the best taste. 

Other Delicious Prawn Recipes

Are you in love with prawns as much as we are? If so, try our Prawn Poke Bowls next! We hope you will give these recipes a go too:

• 15-Minute Red Pesto Pasta With Prawns
• Creamy Prawn Korma (Mild Prawn Curry Recipe)
• Prawn Saganaki (Greek Prawns With Feta)
• Prawn and Chorizo Risotto
• Prawn Noodles