Scampi au gratin

Scampi au gratin is a tasty and relatively simple dish to prepare, perfect for an elegant seafood appetizer or a main course. Here is the recipe for preparing it.

Ingredients

• 12 fresh, high-quality scampi (or prawns)
• 1 clove of garlic
• Parsley to taste
• Breadcrumbs
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• 1 lemon (to serve)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven in grill mode to 200 °C.
2. Clean the scampi by removing the shell, leaving the tail intact, and removing the intestinal tract. If you prefer, you can also leave them whole for a more dramatic effect.
3. Place the scampi on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
4. In a bowl, mix the breadcrumbs with the finely chopped garlic, chopped parsley, a pinch of salt, some pepper, and plenty of extra virgin olive oil, until you get a moist and sandy mixture.
5. Distribute the mixture over the scampi, trying to cover them evenly.
6. Drizzle everything with a stream of extra virgin olive oil.
7. Bake the scampi and let them gratinate for about 5-10 minutes or until you see a nice golden crust on the surface. The time may vary based on the size of the scampi.
8. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.

Serve the scampi au gratin with lemon wedges to squeeze at the moment and, if desired, accompany with fresh salads or other seasonal vegetables.

Fun Facts

The term “mazzancolla” is often used in Italian-speaking countries to indicate large prawns and refers to different species of decapod crustaceans. Gratin is a culinary technique that consists of cooking food in the oven with a golden crust on the surface, often obtained with breadcrumbs and cheese, but in this case, we have opted for a lighter but equally tasty version.