Go Back
Chilli Prawn Pasta

Chilli Prawn Pasta

This chilli prawn pasta combines juicy prawns with a garlicky, chilli-spiked tomato sauce that clings to silky pasta. Bold, fiery, and ready in under 30 minutes—it’s a restaurant-worthy dish you can whip up at home.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 520
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the pasta base:
  • 180 g fettuccine or your favorite pasta shape
  • 1 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
For the prawns & sauce:
  • 165 g medium prawns peeled and deveined (5–6 oz)
  • 2 whole anchovies or 1/2 tsp anchovy paste
  • 1 clove garlic finely minced
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes adjust to taste
  • 1 cup tomato passata
  • 2 tsp parmesan cheese finely grated
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley finely chopped (plus extra for garnish)

Method
 

  1. Step 1: Cook pasta in salted boiling water until 1 minute shy of package instructions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
  2. Step 2: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high. Sear prawns 30 seconds per side until just opaque. Remove and set aside.
  3. Step 3: In the same skillet, add anchovies and red pepper flakes, stirring until anchovies melt. Add garlic and wine, cooking 30 seconds until mostly reduced.
  4. Step 4: Stir in tomato passata, lemon juice, parmesan, salt, and pepper. Simmer 1–2 minutes until slightly thickened.
  5. Step 5: Add pasta, prawns, parsley, and 1/2 cup pasta water. Toss for 1 minute until sauce emulsifies and coats pasta.
  6. Step 6: Adjust with more chilli, lemon, or parmesan to taste. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.

Notes

✔ Anchovy substitute: Use a splash of fish sauce. ✔ Wine-free option: Replace with chicken or veggie broth. ✔ Gluten-free: Use gluten-free pasta. ✔ Creamy variation: Add a splash of cream at the end. ✔ Mediterranean flair: Add sun-dried tomatoes or olives.