Catalan-Style Shrimps Recipe

Catalan-Style Shrimps are a vibrant, Mediterranean-inspired appetizer made with juicy prawns, fresh cherry tomatoes, and tangy marinated onions. It’s the perfect starter for seafood lovers and a brilliant dish to serve during warm-weather gatherings or festive dinners.

Why Everyone Will Love This Recipe

Fresh and Flavorful: With bright lemon, sweet tomatoes, and punchy vinegar-marinated onions, every bite sings with Mediterranean zest.

Quick and Easy: No complex techniques—just clean, fresh ingredients and simple prep.

Perfect for Entertaining: It’s a colorful, crowd-pleasing starter that looks gourmet but comes together in minutes.

What Is Catalan-Style Shrimp?

Rooted in the culinary traditions of Catalonia in northeastern Spain, this dish showcases the region's love for seafood and bold, balanced flavors. It’s essentially a seafood salad with a citrusy vinaigrette—known as a citronette—and often features marinated vegetables for extra depth. It’s light, refreshing, and decidedly Mediterranean.

Cooking Tips

Use fresh prawns for the best texture and sweetness—frozen ones work in a pinch but should be thoroughly thawed.

Quick-cook the prawns over medium-high heat to keep them juicy.

Balance the dressing: Taste your citronette and adjust the lemon-to-oil ratio to your liking.

Chill the onions: Letting them marinate for the full 30 minutes ensures a mellow, tangy bite.

Serve cold or room temperature—either way, it’s delicious.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use Shrimp Instead of Prawns?

Yes! Shrimp and prawns can be used interchangeably in this recipe.

How Long Should I Marinate the Onions?

Marinate them for at least 30 minutes to get a nice balance of tang and sweetness.

Is This Dish Spicy?

No, but you can add a pinch of chili flakes or fresh chili if you like a bit of heat.

Can I Make This Dish Ahead of Time?

Absolutely. You can prepare all components a few hours in advance and assemble just before serving.

What Can I Serve With Catalan Shrimps?

Try them with crusty bread, on a bed of greens, or alongside other tapas-style dishes.

How to Store

Place any leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. For best flavor, allow the shrimp to come to room temperature before serving again. Avoid microwaving to maintain texture.

How to Freeze

Freezing is not recommended for this dish. The marinated vegetables and dressing can become watery, and the prawns may turn rubbery once thawed. For best results, enjoy fresh.

Instructions

Slice the onion into rings. Halve the cherry tomatoes and chop the celery.

In a small bowl, mix vinegar and water. Add onion slices and let sit for 30 minutes.

Heat olive oil in a pan. Add prawns, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until pink and opaque—about 2–3 minutes. Set aside.

Whisk lemon juice, olive oil, and salt together in a small bowl.

In a large bowl, combine cherry tomatoes, celery, marinated onions (drained), and cooked prawns. Pour over the citronette and toss gently.

Transfer to a serving platter and enjoy!