Glossary of food terms: P

Prawn

A type of shellfish. Called shrimp in the US, prawns are available fresh or frozen, in or out of their shells. In the UK, the prawns seen most commonly in supermarkets are small and pink. These have already been cooked.

Fresh, raw prawns are grey and have a better texture than frozen prawns. If you buy whole prawns, the shells and heads are excellent for making stock.

Prawns are used a great deal in Asian cooking, in stir-fries and curries. Prawns can be boiled, steamed or fried and are perfect for the barbecue. Look out for North Atlantic prawns, which are more likely to be sustainably fished.

You can find out more about shellfish in our Cook's Guide.

• Prawn tempura
• Prawn, pork and vegetable dim sum
• Green prawn curry
• Hot and sour prawn soup