Devilled prawns, a popular Sri Lankan prawn recipe for all you spicy seafood lovers.
You can distinguish the Sri Lankan devilled prawn recipe from other spicy Asian prawn recipes because of the clean flavours and easy ingredients used.

With chunky onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and a spicy sauce coating the prawn devil, you can’t help but get your hands messy and enjoy devilled prawns.
The best part of cooking prawn devil is that you can customise this prawn recipe to suit your palate.
So go ahead and give this spicy prawn recipe a try.
Why you should make devilled prawns.
First of all, it’s easy to make with minimum fuss and always an instant hit with the family.
- If you love spicy seafood, this prawn(shrimp devil )recipe is a must-try.
- Yes, the reference to”devilled” means the prawn stir-fry is spicy, but you can ADJUST the level of spice added to this prawn dish and make it even a little sweeter for you and the kids.
- There’s no need for extra dipping sauce as the devilled prawns already have a sauce that coats the prawn with loads of flavour.

What to serve with devilled prawns.
- You can easily serve the devilled prawns as a starter or party bite.
Remove the shells or use deshelled prawns, but if your family and friends don’t mind using their fingers, I would really suggest leaving the shells on. - Rice dishes to pair with this prawn recipe.
- Serve the seafood dish with some
- Other vegetarian curries to pair with devilled prawns.
- If you want to use it in a Sri Lankan meal, then incorporate or simply substitute the meat dishes of any of the Sri Lankan menu plans given here.

Tips and questions on devilled prawns.
- Tips.
- Notes on the prawns.
- I have made this devilled prawn recipe with the shell and without it.
- Making the recipe with the shell allows you to cook and sear it for a longer time.
- If you choose to make this recipe with deshelled prawns, avoid cooking for a longer period. Overcooked prawns take on a rubbery texture.
- Having tried both methods, I prefer to cook with the shell on, though peeling it off while eating can be time-consuming.
- Workflow to make devilled prawns.
- Devein and clean the prawns.
- Marinate the prawns.
- Stir-fry the other elements in the recipes.
- Combine the prawns into the wok and adjust the taste as per your need.
- Notes on the prawns.
What you will need in the kitchen.
- Chopping board and knife.
- A glass bowl to marinate the prawns.
- A large wok or frying pan.
More Prawn recipes.
Jaffna curry powder prawn curry.
Caramelised garlic prawn stir-fry.
How to make crunchy prawn head fries.
Sri Lankan coconut shrimp curry.
Sri Racha spicy shrimp stir-fry.
RECIPE DIFFICULTY-EASY
Ingredients to make the prawn recipe.
- Prawns cleaned and deveined(you have the option to cook with the shell on or without it. Refer to notes on tips and questions).
- lime juice.
- Oil
- Curry leaves. Substitute with a bay leaf.
- Pandan leaf(opt out if this ingredient is not available to you).
- Chopped or minced ginger.
- Garlic, chopped or minced.
- large onions cut into wedges.
- Banana peppers or capsicums. Substitute with bell peppers.
- Tomatoes cut into thick wedges(quartered).
- Green chillies split in the middle.
- Tomato sauce(use your favourite chilli sauce, reduce or increase the amount depending on how much sauce you want).
- Red chilli flakes(reduce as per your need, as this is quite a lot of red chilli flakes and can be quite spicy).
- Red chilli powder.
Step-by-step photo tutorial.
How to cook Sri Lankan devilled prawns(shrimp).
Have all the ingredients you need to make the devilled prawns ready.
Clean and devein the prawns.
Drain any excess water and pat dry with kitchen paper towels.
If you want to learn how to clean and devein prawns.
You can learn it on this post on how to clean shrimp with step-by-step images and instructions.

Place them in a bowl(use a glass bowl, it’s easier to get rid of any residual smell of prawns than in a plastic bowl).
Add lime juice, a pinch of salt and set aside for 10-15 minutes.

Place a large wok or frying pan over low to medium heat and pour in the oil.
leave it to warm for a few seconds.
Add the curry leaves(substitute with a bay leaf), and pandan(opt out if this ingredient is not available to you) and let it sizzle.
Followed by chopped ginger and minced or chopped garlic.

Continuously stir and cook over low-medium fire for 2 minutes.
Increase heat to medium and add in the onion wedges, capsicums(substitute with bell peppers) and tomato wedges.
Toss and cook them for 2 minutes( add a tablespoon of oil if you find the onions or capsicums sticking to the bottom of the pan).
Try not to overcook or cook until the onions, capsicums turn too soft.

Add the marinated prawns to the wok.

Cook until they turn pink(3 to 5 minutes).
At this point, you can decide if you want to slightly sear the prawns, onions, and capsicums over high heat to give them a more barbecue flavour.
You can do this by tossing the ingredients over high heat for 2 minutes.

If not, immediately follow the next step below.
Add tomato sauce(use your favourite hot sauce), red chilli flakes(reduce as per your need), red chilli powder, and season with salt.
Combine all the ingredients with the prawns and other elements and cook for another 5 minutes over low heat.

2-3 minutes before you remove the prawns from the fire, taste and check if all the flavours are as you want.
To add sweetness to the devil shrimp, sprinkle a tablespoon of sugar, and continue to cook until combined.
Serve warm with any of the side dish recommendations given above.

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Sri Lankan spicy devilled prawns(shrimp).
Devilled prawns, a popular Sri Lankan prawn recipe for all you spicy seafood lovers.
With chunky onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and a spicy sauce coating the prawn devil, you can’t help but get your hands messy and enjoy this prawn dish.
Ingredients
- The ingredients mentioned below use standard measuring cups and spoons.
- 700g prawns cleaned and deveined
- 3 tablespoons of lime juice
- 4 tablespoons of oil
- A sprig of curry leaves(substitute with a bay leaf)
- 2-inch piece Pandan leaf(opt-out if this ingredient is not available to you)
- 2 tablespoons of chopped or minced ginger(2″ ginger piece)
- 5 cloves of garlic chopped or minced(about 2 tablespoons)
- 2 large onions(cut into wedges, 4-5 thick pieces from each onion)
- 250g banana peppers(capsicum, cut into 1-2 inch long pieces, substitute with bell peppers)
- 2 medium-sized tomatoes cut into thick wedges(quartered)
- 2 green chillies split in the middle
- 1/4 cup of tomato sauce(use your favourite chilli sauce, reduce or increase the amount depending on how much sauce you want)
- 1-2 tablespoons of red chilli flakes(reduce as per your need as this is quite a lot of red chilli flakes and can be quite spicy)
- 1 teaspoon of red chilli powder
Instructions
- Please refer to the notes above on prawns before you continue.
- Have all the ingredients you need to make the devilled prawns ready.
- Clean and devein the prawns(700g).
- Drain any excess water(pat dry if need be with kitchen paper towels).
- If you want to learn how to clean and devein prawns.
- you can learn it on this post on how to clean shrimp with step by step images and instructions.
- This is also my new recipe blog dedicated to only the best seafood recipes.
- Place them in a bowl(use a glass bowl, it’s easier to get rid of any residue smell of prawns than in a plastic bowl).
- Add lime(3 tbs), a pinch of salt and set aside for 10-15 minutes.
How to make the spicy devilled prawns. - Place a large wok or frying pan over low medium heat and pour in the oil(4tbs).
- leave it to warm for a few seconds.
- Add the curry leaves(substitute with a bay leaf), and pandan(opt out, if this ingredient is not available to you) and let it sizzle.
- Followed by chopped ginger(2tbsps) and garlic(5 cloves minced or chopped, about 2 tbsp).
- Continuously stir and cook over low medium fire for 2 minutes.
- Increase heat to medium and add in the onion(2 large cut into wedges), capsicums(4 capsicums, substitute with bell peppers) and tomato wedges(2 medium).
- Toss and cook them for 2 minutes( add a tablespoon of oil if you find the onions or capsicums sticking to the bottom of the pan).
- Try not to overcook or cook until the onions, capsicums turn too soft.
- Add the marinated prawns to the wok.
- Cook until they turn pink(3-5 minutes).
- At this point, you can decide if you want to slightly sear the prawns, onions, and capsicums over high heat to give them a more barbecue flavour.
- You can do this by tossing the ingredients over high heat for 2 minutes.
- If not immediately follow the next step below.
- Add tomato sauce(1/4 cup or use your favourite hot sauce), red chilli flakes(1-2 tbsp red chilli flakes, reduce as per your need), chilli powder(1 tsp), and season with salt.
- Combine all the ingredients with the prawns and other elements and cook for another 5 minutes over low heat.
- 2-3 minutes before you remove the prawns from the fire, taste and check if all the flavours are as you want.
- To add sweetness to the devil shrimp, sprinkle a tablespoon of sugar, and continue to cook until combined.
- Serve warm with any of the side dish recommendations given above.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 5 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 333Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 299mgSodium: 1450mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 4gSugar: 5gProtein: 35g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.
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Becky
Monday 16th of October 2023
Thank you for the delicious recipes. I have been learning to cook Sri Lankan cuisine and love this recipe. I like to add a handful of charred, fresh pineapple chunks to balance the spiciness. I have made it with chicken and cuttlefish as well as prawns.
jehan
Tuesday 17th of October 2023
Hi Becky, thank you for trying out the recipe and writing to me. glad you loved it. devilled cuttlefish sounds amazing. i might add a devilled seafood recipe here with pineapple inspired by your comment here. regards J