Pesto King Prawn Courgetti
Juicy king prawns and ribbons of courgette tossed in a fresh pesto sauce with lemon and cherry tomatoes, ready in 15 minutes.
Made with Basil pesto. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time15 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.67 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 half the olive oil in a large frying pan over a high heat and fry the prawns for 2 minutes each side until pink and cooked through. Remove to a plate.
4 min - 2
Add the rest of the oil and the tomatoes to the pan. Cook for 2 minutes until they soften. Add the garlic and chilli flakes for 30 seconds.
2 min - 3
Add the courgette noodles and toss for 2 minutes only, until just warm and still firm. They release water, so do not overcook.
2 min - 4
Take the pan off the heat. Return the prawns and add your ready made basil pesto (see the base recipe), the lemon zest and a squeeze of juice.
- 5
Toss quickly to coat. Taste and season, then serve straight away.
Tips
- Salt the courgetti only at the end. Salt draws out water and makes the dish watery.
- Pat the prawns dry so they fry rather than steam. Do not crowd the pan.
- If you have no spiraliser, use a peeler to make ribbons of courgette instead.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten straight away. Leftovers keep 1 day in the fridge, but courgette releases water and the dish loses texture.
Questions
Can I use cooked prawns?
Yes. Add them with the pesto at the end and toss for just 1 minute to warm through. Overcooking cooked prawns makes them rubbery.
Can I use spaghetti instead of courgetti?
Yes. Cook 320 g spaghetti and toss it with the prawns and pesto, adding a little pasta water. It is no longer low carb or gluten free unless you choose gluten free pasta.
More made with basil pesto
Double 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.