Fried King Prawns with Paprika

Fried king prawns with paprika are a simple yet very tasty dish that combines the delicate flavor of prawns with the smoky and spicy note of paprika. Here is the recipe to prepare them with an Italian twist, also using a bit of parsley to add freshness.

Ingredients

• 12 large king prawns, shelled and cleaned
• Flour as needed
• 1 egg
• 100 g of breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons of paprika
• 1 tablespoon of finely chopped parsley
• Salt as needed
• Seed oil for frying (e.g., sunflower oil)
• 1 clove of garlic (optional)
• Lemon slices for serving

Preparation

1. Start by preparing the flavored breading. In a large bowl, mix the breadcrumbs with the paprika, finely chopped parsley, and a pinch of salt to season everything.
2. In another bowl, beat the egg with a pinch of salt and, if you like, you can also add a crushed garlic clove for a stronger flavor.
3. Prepare the prawns by first coating them in flour, then in the beaten egg and finally in the flavored breading, ensuring they are completely covered.
4. In a large frying pan, heat plenty of seed oil until it reaches a temperature of about 180 °C. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can test the temperature of the oil by dipping a small piece of breadcrumb; if it fries immediately, the oil is ready.
5. Fry the breaded prawns in hot oil for 2-3 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy, turning them once halfway through.
6. Lift them out with a skimmer and lay them on paper towels to remove excess oil.
7. Serve immediately with lemon slices on the side, to spritz as desired.

Curiosity

Paprika is made from the grinding of dried red peppers and is typical of Hungarian, Spanish, and also Southern Italian cuisine, particularly from the region of Calabria. There are different varieties of paprika, from sweet and mild to smoky and spicy. In this dish, paprika adds a spicy and colorful touch, perfect for enhancing the flavor of the king prawns.