The Ultimate Mediterranean Seafood Feast: Baked Garlic Prawns & Crispy Red Mullet Fries

Nothing brings family and friends to the dining table faster than the irresistible aroma of a freshly prepared seafood feast. Today, we are sharing two absolute Mediterranean classics that complement each other perfectly: Juicy Baked Garlic Butter Prawns and Golden Crispy Red Mullet Fries.

Whether you are hosting a weekend dinner or simply craving authentic coastal flavors at home, these recipes are quick, easy, and showcase wild-caught seafood at its finest.

🦐 Recipe 1: Baked Garlic Butter Prawn Casserole

Rich, savory, and bubbling hot right out of the oven! Baking prawns in a casserole dish with garlic, butter, and subtle spices locks in their sweet flavor while creating a delicious dipping sauce for crusty bread.

500g Fresh Wild-Caught Prawns (peeled and deveined)

150g Fresh Button Mushrooms (sliced)

5-6 pieces Sun-Dried Tomatoes (chopped)

4-5 cloves Garlic (minced)

3 tbsp Unsalted Butter

2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 medium Red Bell Pepper (diced)

1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes (Pul Biber) & Dried Oregano

Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F).

Sauté the aromatics & mushrooms: In an oven-safe casserole or baking dish, melt the butter with olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic, diced red peppers, and sliced mushrooms. Sauté until the mushrooms are tender and golden.

Add sun-dried tomatoes & spices: Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, red pepper flakes, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Let the flavors meld together for 2 minutes to form a rich, savory sauce base.

Bake the prawns: Add the fresh prawns into the dish, tossing them gently to coat in the garlic butter, mushroom, and sun-dried tomato sauce. Transfer to the oven and bake for 10–12 minutes until the prawns are opaque, juicy, and bubbling hot.

Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve piping hot alongside crusty bread to soak up the delicious rich sauce!

🐟 Recipe 2: Crispy Pan-Fried Red Mullet

Red Mullet (Barbunya) is loved worldwide for its firm texture and rich, nutty flavor. Coating the fish in fine cornmeal before frying creates a light, ultra-crispy outer layer while keeping the meat juicy on the inside.

Ingredients:

800g Fresh Red Mullet (cleaned and gutted)

1 cup Yellow Fine Cornmeal (or coarse flour)

1 tsp Salt

Vegetable oil or olive oil for frying

Lemon wedges and pickled peppers for serving

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Prep the fish: Pat the cleaned red mullets dry thoroughly with paper towels. Season generously with salt inside and out.

Coat with cornmeal: Dredge each fish in the cornmeal, making sure both sides are lightly coated. Shake off any excess flour.

Crispy fry: Heat 1/2 inch of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, arrange the red mullets side-by-side.

Cook to perfection: Fry for 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy.

Drain and serve: Transfer to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet or tray to drain excess oil. Serve immediately with lemon wedges!

🛒 Bring the Sea to Your Kitchen!

Ready to recreate this delicious seafood feast at home? Order your fresh, wild-caught ingredients directly from Seafood Xpress for guaranteed quality and fast delivery:

🦐 Buy Fresh Wild-Caught Prawns — Sustainably sourced, juicy, and perfect for your garlic butter casserole.

🐟 Buy Fresh Whole Red Mullet — Wild-caught Red Mullet, ideal for cornmeal crusted pan-frying.