Camarones al Mole (Prawns in Mole)
Juicy king prawns in a thinned, glossy mole, with fresh cilantro lime rice and a squeeze of lime.
Made with Mole poblano and Cilantro lime rice. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time25 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.40 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. Heat the oil in a wide pan over a high heat and cook the prawns for 1 minute a side until just starting to turn pink. Tip out.
2 min - 2
Add the garlic and cook for 20 seconds. Pour in the mole poblano (see the base recipe) and the water and stir until smooth. Simmer for 4 minutes.
4 min - 3
Return the prawns and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until opaque, pink and curled.
3 min - 4
Reheat the cilantro lime rice (see the base recipe) in a covered pan with a splash of water until steaming hot.
- 5
Toast the sesame seeds for 1 minute. Serve the prawns over the rice, with sesame seeds and lime.
Tips
- Do not overcook the prawns. They go rubbery in a few minutes in hot sauce.
- Thin the mole properly, since prawns suit a lighter sauce than a pork or turkey dish.
- Use raw prawns, not cooked ones; cooked prawns overcook while heating.
Storing and freezing
Eat straight away. Keep leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 1 day and reheat until steaming hot all the way through. Do not reheat the rice more than once.
Questions
Is prawns with mole traditional?
Mole is classically served on poultry or pork, but camarones al mole is a recognised coastal variation. Use a lighter hand with the sauce so it complements the sweetness of the prawns.
Can I use frozen prawns?
Yes. Defrost fully in the fridge overnight, drain and dry thoroughly before cooking.
More made with mole poblano
Albóndigas en Mole Poblano (Meatballs in Mole)
GFNFPastel Azteca de Mole con Pollo y Elote (Mole Tortilla Layer Bake)
EFNFHuevos Estrellados con Mole y Frijoles (Fried Eggs with Mole and Beans)
GFNFVQuesadillas de Champiñones con Mole (Mushroom and Mole Quesadillas)
GFEFNFDouble 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.
