Stir-Fried Malaysian Sambal Prawns with Aromatic Shallots
Succulent prawns stir-fried in a spicy sambal sauce balanced with sweet shallots and tangy tamarind, capturing the vibrant flavors of Malaysian street food. This Malaysian-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 22 minutes, pairs large prawns, peeled and deveined, shallots, thinly sliced, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 400 g large prawns, peeled and deveined
- 3 medium (90 g) shallots, thinly sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 6 pieces dried red chilies, soaked and blended
- 1 tbsp tamarind paste
- 2 tsp palm sugar
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 50 ml water
- 1 tsp fresh lime juice
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
The wok we’d stir-fry this in → Best Woks for 2026: Carbon Steel, Nonstick & Flat-Bottom Picks + Buying Guide
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a large wok over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 3 medium (90 g) sliced shallots and 4 minced garlic cloves, stir-frying for 2 minutes until fragrant and soft.
- Step 2: Add 6 pieces blended dried red chilies paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly until the oil turns red and the paste is aromatic.
- Step 3: Stir in 400 g large peeled and deveined prawns, tossing for 3-4 minutes until they turn pink and curl up.
- Step 4: Mix in 1 tbsp tamarind paste, 2 tsp palm sugar, 1 tbsp fish sauce, and 50 ml water; simmer for 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the prawns.
- Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in 1 tsp fresh lime juice and 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro leaves for brightness before serving.









