Mexican · Authentic-ish Mexican
Camarones al Mojo de Ajo
210 kcal a serving, against 521 for the traditional version. That is 311 kcal off, or 60%, with 31.8g of protein. Serves 4. 20 minutes.
What the traditional version is
A towering pile of fresh prawns fried gently in an enormous quantity of butter and olive oil, packed with thinly sliced garlic and finished with a little lime juice. The fat acts as a rich, luxurious sauce that coats the seafood completely and soaks perfectly into whichever starch you serve alongside it.
What changed, and what each change costs
200g of mixed butter and olive oil swapped for 30g of butter and 150g of chicken stock
Drowning food in melted fat tastes phenomenal, but it heavily inflates the dish. Slashing the butter and dropping the oil removes a massive amount of fat. The stock steps in to give you a puddle of savoury liquid to mop up.
What it costs you. You lose the rich, glossy cling of a true butter sauce. The liquid is much thinner and lacks that luxurious mouthfeel. It's the first compromise you'll notice, because the sauce runs off the prawns instead of sticking to them.
Added an extra 20g of lime juice
Because the sauce has lost the richness of the butter, it needs to rely on aggression. Upping the acid from the lime juice helps the thinner stock mimic the intense flavour impact of the original.
What it costs you. The dish leans much sharper and more acidic. If you prefer a mellow, sweet garlic profile, this version might taste a little harsh. You will definitely feel the citrus hitting the back of your throat.
The numbers
| Per serving | Traditional | Lightened |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 521 | 210 |
| Protein | 31.1g | 31.8g |
| Fat | 43.7g | 7.4g |
| Saturated fat | 20.8g | 4.1g |
| Carbohydrate | 3.3g | 5g |
| Protein per 100 kcal | 6g | 15.1g |
Every figure is computed from the recipe's own weighed ingredient list against public food composition databases. The appendix in Authentic-ish Mexican prints the exact database row used for each ingredient, so any number here can be checked.
Allergens. crustaceans, milk, celery.
The method is in the book
This is a brilliant, sharp plate of fresh seafood. But let's be totally honest with each other, You end up with a very sensible dinner. The version that's a decadent coastal feast is still out there and still better. The sauce is punchy and fragrant, and the lime cuts through beautifully, but it will never match the sheer joy of dragging a warm tortilla through half a pint of liquid butter. I accept that trade because it means I can eat a giant mountain of prawns without feeling completely sluggish afterwards. It delivers the flavour of garlic and the sea, just without the heavy grease.
The quantities and the method for this dish are in Authentic-ish Mexican, along with 56 more. Buy the paperback