Latin-Style Prawn Rice Bowl with Avocado and Lime

Latin-style rice bowls bring together a warm grain base, boldly seasoned protein and fresh toppings in a format that is quick to assemble and easy to adapt. Here, long-grain rice is topped with prawns coated in cumin, smoked paprika, lime zest and juice, giving the bowl a gently smoky, citrus-led flavour without heaviness. Tomato and avocado keep the dish fresh and soft-textured, while coriander and extra lime sharpen the finish. It is well suited to a fast lunch or light dinner, with the key to good results lying in fluffy rice and prawns cooked just until pink and tender.
Cuisine style Latin-inspired everyday cooking
Cooking style Meal prep friendly • Minimal cleanup
Time commitment Under 30 minutes

Why this recipe works

  • Fast cooking: The prawns cook in just a few minutes while the rice finishes, keeping the whole bowl within a short lunch-friendly timeframe.
  • Bright, balanced flavour: Lime juice and zest cut through the richness of the avocado and lift the smoky cumin-paprika seasoning.
  • Fresh contrast: Warm rice and tender prawns are balanced by cool tomato, creamy avocado and fresh coriander.

Get the most out of this recipe

Texture tips

  • Keep the prawns tender: Remove the prawns from the heat as soon as they turn pink and opaque; overcooking can make them firm and rubbery.
  • Steam-dry the rice: Letting the drained rice sit covered briefly helps excess moisture evaporate, giving a lighter, fluffier base.

Ingredient notes

  • Choose ripe but firm toppings: Use avocado that yields gently and tomato that holds its shape so the bowl stays fresh rather than mushy.
  • Smoked paprika matters: Smoked paprika gives the prawns their rounded, savoury depth; regular paprika will taste milder and less smoky.

Make-ahead tips

  • Keep fresh toppings separate: For the best texture, store the rice and prawns separately from the avocado, tomato, coriander and lime until serving.
  • Reheat before assembling: Warm the rice and prawns until piping hot, then add the fresh toppings and lime just before eating.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
Print
  1. Cook the rice in a saucepan of salted boiling water for 10 to 12 minutes, until tender. Drain well in a colander, then return to the pan, cover, and leave to steam-dry for 2 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, put the prawns in a mixing bowl with the ground cumin, smoked paprika, 1/4 tsp of the fine sea salt, and the black pepper. Finely grate in a little lime zest, then squeeze in 1 tbsp lime juice and toss to coat.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the prawns and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, turning, until pink and just cooked through.
  4. Dice the tomato and cut the avocado into chunks. Roughly chop the fresh coriander, then cut the remaining lime into wedges.
  5. Divide the rice between two bowls and top with the spiced prawns, tomato, and avocado. Sprinkle over the coriander and finish with a pinch of the remaining salt and a squeeze of lime to taste.

Made this recipe? Rate it — a comment is optional.

Recipe notes

Tips

  • For the best texture, do not overcook the prawns; take them off the heat as soon as they turn pink and opaque.
  • If your rice is ready early, keep it covered off the heat so it stays warm and fluffy.
  • Food safety: if serving anyone who is pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised, make sure the prawns are cooked through and piping hot.

Substitutions

  • Replace Olive oil with Avocado oil for a slightly richer, buttery finish.
  • Replace Smoked paprika with Ground paprika for a milder, less smoky flavour.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 2 days
  • Store rice and prawns together in an airtight container; keep the avocado and tomato separate if possible. Reheat the rice and prawns in a microwave until piping hot, then add the fresh toppings and lime just before serving.

Ratings & reviews

Liked this recipe? Share your feedback to support our cooking community.

Tried this recipe?

Choose 1–5 stars. A comment is optional.

If you leave a comment, use 10–500 characters.

Stay inspired

Discover new recipes, seasonal favourites and cooking inspiration every day. Follow JustRecipes on Pinterest and Spillt.

Latin-Style Prawn Rice Bowl with Avocado and Lime
Image by JustRecipes
Pinterest

Recipe overview

  • Servings: 2 servings
  • Total time: 30min (20min active)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Cuisine: Latin American
  • Allergens:
    Crustaceans
Beginner friendly Kid friendly

Plan your meals and get a complete grocery list automatically.

Add to meal planner

Equipment you'll need

Advertisement

Recommended tools for this recipe

Best overall

Misen Carbon Steel Nonstick Frying Pan 12 Inch

Versatile induction-ready pan
  • Works on all stovetops
  • Naturally nonstick when seasoned
  • Requires seasoning and maintenance

Got ingredients left?

Find recipes using ingredients from this recipe or what you already have at home.

Find recipes with these ingredients →

Make this recipe easier next time

Advertisement

These tools help you get better results with less effort.

Best overall

Misen Carbon Steel Nonstick Frying Pan 12 Inch

Versatile induction-ready pan
  • Works on all stovetops
  • Naturally nonstick when seasoned
  • Requires seasoning and maintenance
Best value

Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowls with Lids

Microwave-safe glass
  • Microwave safe
  • BPA-free lids
  • Glass is heavier
Top quality

All-Clad Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Saucepan

Professional-grade tri-ply saucepan
  • Excellent heat control
  • Premium build quality
  • Expensive
Best overall

KitchenAid Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls

Non-slip steel set
  • Non-slip base
  • Stainless steel
  • Not microwave safe

Browse alphabetically

Looking for a specific recipe? Choose a letter below to jump directly to recipes starting with that letter or number.

Enjoy cooking with JustRecipes?

Add JustRecipes as one of your preferred Google sources to discover our recipes more easily across Google Search.

Add JustRecipes to Google

Every recipe on JustRecipes follows the same structured editorial process. Learn how recipes are created, validated, translated, illustrated, and continuously improved across the platform. How we create recipes.