Jamie Oliver 5 Ingredients Pancetta Prawn Skewers

These Jamie Oliver 5 Ingredients Pancetta Prawn Skewers are everything you want in a quick Mediterranean-style dinner—light, fresh, smoky, and beautifully balanced. Juicy prawns are wrapped in crispy pancetta, skewered with rosemary sprigs, and served on a bed of vibrant tomatoes. I made this on a sunny weekend and it felt like a mini escape to the coast. (inspired by Jamie Oliver)

Ingredients Needed

• 500g ripe mixed-colour tomatoes
• 8 large raw shell-on king prawns
• 4 rashers of smoked pancetta
• 2 large woody sprigs of rosemary
• 2 cloves of garlic

Optional:

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• ½ tablespoon red wine vinegar
• Sea salt and black pepper

How To Make Jamie Oliver 5 Ingredients Pancetta Prawn Skewers

1. Prepare the Tomatoes: Slice the tomatoes thinly and arrange them on your serving plates. Season generously with sea salt and black pepper. Drizzle with a splash of extra virgin olive oil and a bit of red wine vinegar—this forms a quick, flavorful base that soaks up the prawn juices beautifully.
2. Butterfly the Prawns: Peel the prawns but leave the heads and tails intact—they add amazing flavor. Use a sharp knife to run down the back of each prawn, removing the vein. This also helps them butterfly as they cook, giving a gorgeous shape and texture.
3. Wrap and Skewer: Halve each pancetta rasher and tightly wrap a piece around each prawn. Strip the rosemary sprigs, reserving the leaves for cooking, and use the woody stalks as skewers. No rosemary stalks? Wooden skewers work fine too.
4. Sizzle and Flip: Heat a non-stick frying pan over high heat with a drizzle of olive oil. Add the skewers and cook for 2 minutes until the pancetta starts to crisp. Flip, sprinkle in the rosemary leaves, and cook for another 2 minutes. In the final minute, toss in the sliced garlic and let it all mingle without burning.
5. Serve It Up: Lay the sizzling skewers over your dressed tomatoes, making sure the juices soak in. It’s a rustic, colorful dish that looks impressive but is so simple to pull off.

Why I Love This Recipe

The rosemary skewers make this dish so aromatic, and the crispy pancetta gives the prawns an irresistible crunch. It feels special without being fussy. I served it with crusty bread and a glass of chilled white wine—honestly, dinner couldn’t have been better.

Recipe Tips

• Buy the best prawns you can. Shell-on, raw prawns offer the best texture and taste.
• Use rosemary stalks if you can. They add flavor while doubling as skewers.
• Wrap tightly! The pancetta should hug the prawns so it crisps up beautifully.
• Don’t overcook. Prawns turn rubbery if they go too long—4–5 minutes total is ideal.
• Add garlic at the end. It burns easily, so toss it in just for the final sizzle.

How To Store & Reheat Jamie Oliver 5 Ingredients Pancetta Prawn Skewers

• In the Fridge: Cool any leftovers completely and store in an airtight container. They’re best eaten within 1 day.
• Reheating: Use a non-stick pan on low heat with a splash of water. Cook for 2–3 minutes just until warmed through.
• Freezing: Not recommended—the prawns and pancetta can become tough and lose their texture.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Can I grill these instead of pan-frying?
  Absolutely! They’re brilliant on the BBQ—just brush with oil first.
• What tomatoes are best?
  Go for a mix of cherry, heirloom, or vine-ripened for color and sweetness.
• Do I have to butterfly the prawns?
  It helps with even cooking and makes them more tender, but you can skip it if you’re short on time.
• Can I prepare these ahead of time?
  Yes, assemble the skewers up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerate until ready to cook.

Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 272
• Fat: 12.3g
• Saturated Fat: 2.3g
• Protein: 31.6g
• Carbohydrates: 9.3g
• Sugars: 7.6g
• Fibre: 3.4g
• Salt: 1.6g

Try More Jamie Oliver 5 Ingredients Recipes:

• 5 Ingredients Mussel Risotto
• 5 Ingredients Crispy Prawn Parcels
• 5 Ingredients Speedy Tuna Pasta
• 5 Ingredients Mussel Tagliatelle