Gambas en Gabardina
Battered fried prawns, crisp and golden.
Ingredients
- 400 g Shrimp
- 120 g All-purpose flour
- 1 Egg
- 1 tsp Pimenton dulce (sweet smoked paprika)
- 400 ml Neutral oil
- ½ tsp Salt
- 1 Lemon (optional)
Method
- Pour the oil into a deep pan and heat over medium-high until it reaches 180C / 355F (a cube of bread browns in about 40 seconds).
- Peel the prawns, leaving the tails on, and pat them dry.
- Whisk the flour, egg, paprika, salt, and a little cold water into a smooth, pourable batter.
- Cut the lemon into wedges for serving.
- Dip the prawns in the batter and fry in batches in the hot oil until golden and crisp, lifting each batch onto paper to drain before the next.
- Serve the prawns hot with the lemon wedges for squeezing over.
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About Gambas en Gabardina
Gambas en gabardina translates charmingly as 'prawns in a raincoat,' the gabardina being the coat of batter that cloaks each prawn before it hits the hot oil. It is a classic Spanish fried tapa and a fixture of festive tables and holiday spreads, where its golden crunch makes it a crowd favorite. The batter is simple, flour and egg loosened with cold water and tinted with sweet smoked pimentón, which gives the coating both color and a mild, smoky depth.
Done well it is light and crisp rather than heavy, the thin jacket crackling to reveal a sweet, tender prawn inside, the tail left on as a built-in handle for eating out of hand. The keys this version emphasizes are getting the oil properly hot to around 180C so the batter sets instantly and stays greaseless, and frying in batches so the temperature never crashes; drained on paper and served straight away, they lose their magic if they sit. A squeeze of lemon over the top is the traditional finish, cutting the richness, and they are meant to be eaten hot with fingers, ideally as part of a larger table of tapas with a cold drink.
Gambas en Gabardina: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Gambas en Gabardina?
A serving has about 314 calories — 25.1g protein, 24g carbs, 13.3g fat, 0.4g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is it high in protein?
Each serving has about 25.1g of protein, roughly 32% of its calories.
Is Gambas en Gabardina gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains All-purpose flour. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Do I need every ingredient to make Gambas en Gabardina?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out lemon — it's optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Gambas en Gabardina make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.