Gambas
Gambas or “Gambas al Ajillo” is a type of Spanish tapas that is made out of flash fried shrimps with garlic and chillies. Though it is consumed as tapas in Spain, in Philippines it can be also served as a side dish or as mains accompanied with rice, it is also a popular “pulutan” (Tagalog word defining food items used to accompany with an alcohol drink such as beer) that’s why most of the bars will have this on their menu alongside sisig and other Filipino favourite pulutans.
A really quick and easy dish you can serve on cocktails or even as a side dish, great for parties especially for those who love their food hot and spicy.
Ingredients
500g shrimps, shelled and deveined
5 pcs dried red chillies, chopped and seeds removed
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp paprika
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tbsp chopped parsley
juice from 2 lemons
salt
freshly ground black pepper
ciabatta or baguette
Method
1. In a pan add olive oil then sauté garlic and chillies in medium heat until fragrant.
2. Bring heat to high then add the shrimps, lemon juice, paprika and parsley. Cook until shrimps turn pink then remove from heat.
3. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper then serve with bread.
I’ve never had shrimp served over toast, but this looks like something I would totally enjoy. I love the flavors and the textures!
That’s the perfect appetizer!
I have my own favourite Portuguese recipe for this… will have to do a comparison test , difficult task I know but someone’s gotta do it. LOL.
I never read anything more then the first 3 sentences of recipes as its the pics that grab my attention like this one, looks so tasty.
Shrimps, or as my Norwegian brother-in-law says, S’rimps, are such a refreshing treat when they’re available. A tempting treat!
Love garlic prawns. And I’m starting to really enjoy your posts about Filipino cuisine! So varied and flavourful. We have a word for pulutan in Polish too – it is called zagrycha but it’s normally just pickled cucumbers or smoked sausage! This is much nicer!
Hmmm. . . looking in this picture makes me hungry, I’ll check this on youtube as well.
Just wonder why shrimp is not chopped up small so that it’s easier to eat (more like spread). This dish is supposed to enjoy the texture of whole shrimp? I just imagine myself (very clumsy) trying to bite this dish and whole shrimp start to drop from the bread… I know that’s what’s going to happen.
Other than that, this dish looks delicious and my kids will love the shrimp over bread!
It is usually served as an appetizer with bread on the side that’s why shrimps are not chopped, the bread then dipped in the residue sauce and is used to suck up all the flavours. Some tapas bar serve them on top of bread as well which does the same purpose of soaking the bread with all of the flavours from the shrimp and oil but this time it is consumed with the shrimps.
Mmm tapas I recognize these! I love to say “gambas” too
Yummy
extra spicy please.
Oh this Gambas looks amazing. I also posted a shrimp sandwich.. great minds think alike
I’m not ashamed to admit that I love pulutan dishes. I’m such a snacker that I’d rather eat merienda than have an actual dinner sometimes.
I ran out of shrimp recipe. This is worth a try.
wow…so totally impressive recipe…awesome..;P
Tasty Appetite
I just had gambas for dinner but as always, yours managed to look a lot more appetizing, haha! I should tell my cook to try your recipe next time.
wow wow ..so catchy !! prawns . I just love it .. Nice way to serve mate !! Make me hungry !!
These are a perfect appetizer- So spicy and full of flavor!
I love Gambas!!!!
flash fried? what does that mean? looks very easy that any novice like me could copy.. I’ll try to remember this whenever shrimps are in season so that its cheaper..
It means quickly stir fried in a very hot pan
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That photo makes me want to take a big bite!!!