THIS is a delicious yet simple dish you can add to your buffet table this holiday season. Seafood being lighter, it can complement the heavier meat dishes such as ham or lechon that you might be serving your guests. And because prawns cook very quickly, you can even cook it just before your guests arrive.

Grilled Prawns with Melted Butter

1 k medium to large prawns

1 c butter

1 whole head garlic, chopped

Cooking oil for brushing

Salt and pepper

Wash prawns. Slit the back and remove the black vein in the center. Do not peel the prawns; keep heads and tails on. Put butter in a skillet and add chopped garlic. Heat until butter melts. Remove from heat.

Brush grill with cooking oil so prawns don?t stick. Heat grill to medium. Season prawns with salt and pepper and arrange on the grill.

Brush prawns with melted butter and garlic and cook until prawns turn pinkish orange. If desired, brush with additional butter and garlic while the prawns are cooking. Transfer to a serving platter.

TIPS

Since the prawns are the only element in this dish, it is best to use the large, fatty ones.

Melting the butter together with the garlic infuses the butter with the garlic flavor.

Watch the prawns while they?re being grilled so that they don?t get over cooked. Otherwise, they?ll become tough and dry.

If desired, you can also add ? c fresh lemon juice to the melted butter to give the prawns a citrusy flavor.