Camarones a la Diabla con Arroz Verde (Devilled Prawns with Green Rice)
Juicy prawns in a fiery, smoky red chilli sauce, balanced by cool avocado and zesty green rice.
Made with Cilantro lime rice and Salsa a la diabla. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time25 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.02 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put your ready made cilantro lime rice (see the base recipe) in a pan with 3 tbsp water, cover and heat over a medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring once, until steaming hot all the way through. Keep it covered off the heat.
5 min 30 s - 2
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Add the prawns in one layer and cook for 1 minute on each side until just turning pink.
2 min - 3
Add the garlic and stir for 20 seconds.
- 4
Pour in your ready made salsa a la diabla (see the base recipe). Bring to a bubble and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, until the prawns are pink all over, curled and cooked through and the sauce clings to them.
3 min - 5
Spoon the rice onto plates and top with the prawns and plenty of sauce.
- 6
Serve with sliced avocado, coriander and lime wedges. Eat straight away.
Tips
- Pat the prawns completely dry first so they fry rather than steam. They are done as soon as they are pink and opaque, and overcooked prawns turn rubbery.
- The sauce is properly hot. If you want less heat, stir in 2 tbsp water and a squeeze of lime, or serve extra avocado on the side to cool it.
- Use raw prawns, not ready cooked ones. Cooked prawns toughen when simmered in the sauce.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten at once. Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate and eat within 1 day, reheating only once until steaming hot all the way through. Do not freeze cooked prawns that were frozen before cooking.
Questions
What does a la diabla mean?
A la diabla means devilled, and it refers to the fiery red sauce made from dried chillies, tomato and garlic. Camarones a la diabla is a well known seafood dish served in coastal restaurants across Mexico.
Can I use frozen prawns?
Yes. Thaw them fully in the fridge overnight, then drain and pat them very dry. Wet prawns will water down the sauce and fail to colour.
Is it very spicy?
It is hot, but the avocado and rice soften it. Make the diabla sauce with fewer chiles de arbol for a gentler version.
More made with cilantro lime rice
Camarones al Chile Colorado (Prawns in Red Chilli Sauce)
GFDFEFRajas Poblanas con Elote y Frijoles Negros sobre Arroz Verde (Poblano Strips, Corn and Black Beans on Rice)
GFDFEFPescado a la Diabla (Devilled Fish Fillets)
GFDFEFHuevos Estrellados sobre Arroz Verde con Frijoles (Fried Eggs on Green Rice with Beans)
GFDFNFDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.