Camarones al Mojo de Ajo con Frijoles Negros (Garlic Prawns with Black Beans)
Prawns seared in crisp garlic and guajillo oil, served on coriander lime rice with warm black beans.
Made with Mexican black beans and Cilantro lime rice. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.64 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
Pat the prawns dry and season with half the salt. Warm your ready made frijoles negros (see the base recipe) and your ready made arroz verde cilantro lime (see the base recipe) in separate covered pans.
- 2
Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over a low heat. Fry the garlic for 2 minutes until just pale golden. Lift out half and set aside.
2 min - 3
Add the guajillo rings and stir for 30 seconds, taking care they do not burn.
0 min 30 s - 4
Raise the heat, add the prawns and cook for 2 minutes per side until pink, curled and cooked through.
4 min - 5
Stir in the lime juice, the remaining salt and the reserved crisp garlic.
- 6
Spoon the rice onto plates, add the beans and the prawns with all the garlic oil, and scatter over coriander.
Tips
- Fry the garlic gently. Burnt garlic is bitter and spoils the oil.
- Dry prawns sear better than wet ones, so pat them well.
- Prawns turn rubbery quickly. Take them off as soon as they curl and turn pink.
Storing and freezing
Best fresh. Cool leftovers within 1 hour and keep in the fridge for up to 1 day. Reheat only once and until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I use frozen prawns?
Yes. Defrost fully in the fridge overnight, drain and pat very dry before cooking.
How spicy is it?
Mild. Guajillo gives fruity warmth rather than fierce heat. Add a pinch of chilli flakes if you want more.
Can I swap the prawns?
Yes. Chunks of firm white fish or scallops work. Cook fish for 3 to 4 minutes until opaque and flaking.
More made with mexican black beans
Carne Asada con Arroz Rojo y Frijoles Negros (Steak, Rice and Beans Plate)
GFDFEFTacos de Plátano Macho y Frijol Negro (Plantain and Black Bean Tacos)
DFEFNFFrijol Colado Yucateco (Strained Black Bean Purée with Totopos)
GFDFEFFrijol con Puerco Yucateco (Yucatan Pork and Black Bean Stew)
GFDFEFDouble 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.