Stella's Gambas

Close-up of Filipino-style gambas featuring orange prawns in a glossy garlic chilli sauce, topped with crispy toasted garlic and prawn heads, served in a neutral bowl on a wooden table.

Stella’s Gambas is a bold Filipino-style prawn dish layered with garlic, chilli heat, and a unique sweet-salty balance. Juicy prawns are tossed in a rich, glossy sauce made with garlic chilli paste, lemonade, and prawn head juice for deep umami flavour.

 


Stella's Gambas

Stella Sait
Servings

4 servings

Prep Time

30 minutes

Cook Time

45 minutes

Calories

174

Cuisine

Filipino

A rich, garlicky prawn dish with chilli heat and a sweet-salty twist—this Filipino-style gambas is packed with bold, balanced flavour.
Close-up of Filipino-style gambas featuring orange prawns in a glossy garlic chilli sauce, topped with crispy toasted garlic and prawn heads, served in a neutral bowl on a wooden table.

Ingredients

  • 300–400g prawns (with heads, if possible)
  • 3–4 tbsp olive oil
  • 5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1–2 tbsp RoniB’s Kitchen Garlic Chilli Paste
  • 1 ladle (approx. 120ml) lemonade
  • Juice from 3–4 prawn heads (optional but recommended)
  • Rock salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper (optional)

Directions

  1. Toast the garlic.
    Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until lightly golden. Remove and set aside.
  2. Build the sauce base. In the same oil, add the garlic chilli paste. Let it fry gently to release aroma and deepen flavour.
  3. Add sweetness + acidity. Pour in the lemonade and prawn head juice. Let it simmer and reduce slightly until glossy.
  4. Cook the prawns. In a separate wok, cook prawns with rock salt until just done (bright orange and juicy).
  5. Combine. Transfer prawns into the sauce. Toss to coat evenly.
  6. Finish. Add the toasted garlic back in. Mix well and cook for another minute.
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