Spanish · appetizer

Gambas al Ajillo

Name: Gambas al Ajillo
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Spanish
Ingredients: 1 lb large raw prawns, peeled and deveined; 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced; 1 dried guindilla; 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 2 tbsp dry sherry; 2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, chopped; 1/2 tsp sea salt

Gambas al Ajillo reads umami 5.9, marine & briny 5.8 and richness 4.8 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Spanish appetizer, about 15 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 7.0 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 2.5 / 10
Sour & Bright — 1.3 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 2.0 / 10
Rich & Fat — 5.4 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 5.2 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 5.9 · Marine & Briny 5.8 · Richness 4.8 · Salinity 4.6 · Allium 4.5 · Heat 3.4 · Herbaceous 2.9 · Fruity 2.0 · Nutty 1.8 · Warm Spice 1.8 · Bitterness 1.8 · Sweetness 1.6 · Earthy 1.2 · Floral 1.2 · Citrus 1.0 · Sourness 1.0

What's in it (7)

1 lb large raw prawns, peeled and deveined
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 dried guindilla
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp dry sherry
2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1/2 tsp sea salt

Time & effort: about 15 min (10 min active) · effort: easy

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 63.8 kcal, 12.7 g protein, 0.8 g fat, 2.2 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains seafood — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (3 steps)

Heat olive oil generously in a small clay cazuela until very hot, then add sliced garlic and chili and cook briefly until golden and fragrant.
Add the prawns and a splash of sherry, cook vigorously for 1-2 minutes until just pink, and scatter with chopped parsley and sea salt.
Bring sizzling to the table and serve with bread for the garlicky oil.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Rice-Pot Jambalaya — Cajun/Creole
Crawfish Bisque — Cajun/Creole
Crab and Callaloo (Dasheen Leaf Soup with Blue Crab) — Trinidadian
Crawfish Étouffée — Cajun/Creole
Easy Clam Soup — Italian

Keep reading: what umami, marine & briny, richness mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.