Garlic-Lemon Seared Prawns with Charred Fennel

This weeknight dinner delivers big flavor from a short ingredient list: plump jumbo prawns get a quick sear in olive oil with plenty of garlic and bright lemon zest, while fennel wedges char in the same pan until tender and lightly caramelized at the edges. The anise-like sweetness of the fennel plays beautifully against the garlicky, citrusy shellfish, and a final squeeze of lemon juice and scatter of fresh herbs ties the whole plate together without any heavy sauce. Built around lean, protein-rich prawns and a hearty portion of fibrous charred vegetables, this dish is light but satisfying, with all its flavor coming from garlic, citrus, and a hot pan rather than butter or cream. It comes together in well under 30 minutes, making it an easy, low-fuss option for a modest, well-rounded keto-friendly dinner.

Ingredients

• 340 gJumbo prawns, peeled and deveined, tails on, about 30g+ protein per serving
• 2 mediumfennel bulb, trimmed, cut into wedges through the core
• 2 tbspolive oil
• 4 largegarlic cloves, minced
• 1 wholelemon, zested and juiced
• 0.25 tspred pepper flakes, optional, for heat
• 2 tbspfresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
• to tastesalt
• to tasteblack pepper

Method

1. Pat the prawns dry and season lightly with salt and pepper. Set aside.
2. Toss the fennel wedges with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a pinch of salt in a mixing bowl.
3. Heat the skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fennel wedges cut-side down and sear until deeply charred, 3-4 minutes per side. 8:00
4. Transfer the charred fennel to a plate and tent loosely to keep warm.
5. Add the remaining olive oil to the same skillet over high heat. Add the prawns in a single layer and sear for 1-2 minutes per side until pink and just cooked through. 3:00
6. Add the minced garlic, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes to the pan and toss with the prawns for 30 seconds until fragrant. 0:30
7. Remove from heat and squeeze fresh lemon juice over the prawns.
8. Plate the charred fennel wedges and top with the garlic-lemon prawns. Scatter fresh parsley over the top and serve immediately.