These sweet and spicy grilled spot prawn and watermelon kabobs are summer on a stick! Succulent spot prawns (or shrimp) and juicy watermelon are grilled to perfection in minutes in this creative twist on traditional shrimp kabobs.
Jump to:
- ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- 🛒 Ingredients
- 🔪 How to make the best grilled prawn kabobs
- 🔁 Possible Variations or substitutions
- 👍🏼 Helpful Tips
- ❓Reader's Questions
- 🍽 What to serve with grilled watermelon kabobs
- ⏰ Storage Instructions
- 🗒 More favourite shrimp recipes
- 🌟Did you make this recipe for grilled prawn and watermelon kabobs?
- 📖 Recipe
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- So much flavour! This creative twist on traditional kabobs combines the succulent sweetness of juicy watermelon chunks with the delicate, buttery flavour of spot prawns or large shrimp. Sweet, spicy and smoky, all on one skewer!
- Quick to make: These prawn kabobs cook in mere minutes over a hot grill.
- Visually stunning: We eat with our eyes first! These colourful skewers are eye-catching and fun to eat.
- Grilled fruit is delicious! Try these grilled peaches with honey-lemon drizzle for dessert.
🛒 Ingredients
You'll find a complete list of ingredients with amounts in the recipe card below. But before we get to the full recipe, here are a few notes about the ingredients.
- fresh watermelon: sliced into bite-sized chunks about 1-inch square. For advice on how to pick the best watermelon, see 8 tips for how to pick a good watermelon.
- spot prawns or large shrimp: You can use either fresh or frozen and thawed shrimp or prawns to make these kabobs.
- shrimp seasoning mix: a simple blend of garlic powder, paprika, sea salt or Kosher salt, and chipotle chili powder or regular chili powder.
- green onions: Fresh green onions add a savoury smoky flavour when they're grilled.
- skewers: you'll need either wooden or metal skewers
🔪 How to make the best grilled prawn kabobs
These watermelon prawn kabobs are quick and easy to make. Thread watermelon cubes, green onions, and seasoned spot prawns (or shrimp) on skewers and grill over high heat for a few minutes on each side. Use either an outdoor grill or an indoor grill pan on your stovetop.
You'll find complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
🔁 Possible Variations or substitutions
No watermelon? Substitute pineapple as in this recipe for Grilled Cajun Shrimp Kabobs with Pineapple. Or try cantaloupe or honeydew melon.
Vary the seasoning. Try Cajun seasoning or Taco Seasoning, Lemon Pepper Seasoning or Old Bay.
Too spicy? Consider your friends and family's spice tolerance. Chipotle chili powder is quite spicy. You may want to reduce the amount you use.
👍🏼 Helpful Tips
Try to cut the watermelon cubes the same size so they will lay flat on the grill. If the cubes are too thick, the heat won't reach the prawns. If they're too thin, they may be difficult to skewer.
For information on how to buy, peel and cook prawns, see my Complete Guide to Cooking Prawns and Shrimp.
❓Reader's Questions
You'll find many recipes using watermelon here! Either search "watermelon" in the search bar or try these favourite watermelon recipes.
Summer Strawberry Watermelon Salad with Feta
Greek Watermelon Salad with Basil
Avocado Chicken Salad with Watermelon and Mint Lime Dressing
Strawberry Watermelon Sangria Slushie
Sugar-Free Watermelon Lemonade
Strawberry Watermelon Collagen Smoothie
Yes! Cut it into cubes, lay it on a baking sheet, freeze until firm, then package in an airtight container or resealable bag. Watermelon cubes are handy to have for smoothies!
You can also freeze wedges of watermelon. Wrap individually in plastic wrap and freeze.
🍽 What to serve with grilled watermelon kabobs
These spot prawn kabobs are a fun recipe to serve on warm summer nights. Here are a few suggestions for dishes to serve with them.
⏰ Storage Instructions
To store: These grilled prawn kabobs are best eaten fresh from the grill. Be "food safe" and refrigerate leftover kabobs promptly to avoid food-borne illnesses.
🗒 More favourite shrimp recipes
🌟Did you make this recipe for grilled prawn and watermelon kabobs?
When you make this recipe, please leave a comment and a star rating below. I love hearing from you! Thanks in advance. Subscribe to my newsletter and have new recipes delivered straight to your inbox.
📖 Recipe
Grilled Spot Prawn and Watermelon Kabobs
Ingredients
- 12 cubes watermelon, sliced into bite-sized chunks about 1-inch square
- 12 large spot prawns, or shrimp
- 3 medium green onions
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt or Kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- oil for brushing the grill
Instructions
- First, soak wooden skewers in water to prevent them from burning on the grill.
- Next, cut your watermelon into cubes. The easiest way to get uniformly-sized cubes is to first cut a whole melon in half.Place a watermelon half cut-side down on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut the melon into slices about 1-inch thick. Next, holding the slices together, turn the sliced melon 90 degrees, then slice it crosswise.Now you'll have watermelon "sticks" which are very easy to cut into cubes.
- Combine the spices for the seasoning mix for the prawns or shrimp. Toss it with the prawns.
- Thread the ingredients on the skewers alternating watermelon, green onions, and prawns, then repeat.
- Preheat a well-oiled grill. If you think the skewers might stick, brush the kabobs very lightly with a high-heat oil, like avocado oil. When hot, grill the kabobs for 2 to 4 minutes per side, or until the prawns or shrimp are no longer translucent. Don't overcook or the prawns will taste rubbery.Serve hot from the grill with lemon or lime wedges if desired.
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