Prawn Curry Bazun Hin Food

PRAWN CURRY: BAZUN HIN

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large casserole dish or wok set over a mediumhigh heat. Add the chopped onions and cook slowly, turning down the heat to low-medium, and stirring every 4-5 minutes until softened and starting to colour lightly and become oily - this will take at least 15 minutes (see cooking onions, page 102). While the onions are cooking, crush the garlic cloves and ginger to a paste using a pestle and mortar, or blitz in a food processor. Once the onions are ready, add the crushed garlic, ginger and coriander stalks and fry for a few minutes until fragrant. Add the spices and creamed coconut, breaking it up into smaller pieces as you stir. It should melt in. Finally, add the fish sauce and the prawns and cook over a medium heat for about 5 minutes or until the prawns are cooked through. Serve hot on steamed rice and garnish with coriander leaves. Storage notes: We don't find the prawns reheat very well once cooked in the curry, but you could cook the sauce up until adding the prawns, then store in the fridge for up to 4 days, then just reheat and continue from adding the prawns. Cooks note: Sometimes we use whole, shell-on prawns which look visually appealing and will make the curry more flavourful (we like to suck the heads!). Just increase the total weight to 800g-1kg to allow for the heads and shells.

CURRY PRAWNS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a frying pan over a low-medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 15 mins until soft and starting to caramelise, stirring regularly. Add the garlic, ginger, tomatoes and the chilli, if using. Turn the heat up to medium and cook for another 10 mins.
• Meanwhile, if you're using shell-on prawns, prepare them now. Remove the head and, using a pair of scissors, cut down the back of the shell until you reach the last segment of shell that's attached to the tail. Cut through the top layer of flesh on the back of each prawn so it's easy to remove the vein - loosen it from the body, then with your fingers as close to the tail as possible, pull gently to remove the vein completely. You can keep the heads and shells to make a stock.
• Mix the ground spices and tamarind paste with 2 tbsp water, then add to the onion mix. Cook for 5 mins until the spices are fragrant and most of the water has evaporated.
• Stir in the coconut milk and cook for 5-10 mins until reduced to a thick gravy, then tip in the prawns. Cook for 5 mins until they are just pink, then remove from the heat. Serve with rice.

KERALA PRAWN CURRY

Steps:

• In a food processor, blitz the chillies, onion and ginger with 3 tbsp water into a smoothish paste - you may need to scrape it down the sides.
• Heat the oil in a heavy pan or wok. When hot, toss in the mustard and fenugreek seeds, and curry leaves - they'll crackle and pop - and fry for 10 seconds. Add the onion paste, turn the heat down a tad and cook without colouring for about 5 minutes. Splash in some water if it starts to catch.
• Add the turmeric and cracked peppercorns and stir the spices around for a few seconds before tipping in the prawns. Pour in the coconut milk and bring to a simmer, stirring all the time. The milk will take on a yellow colour from the turmeric. Cook for 1 minute until everything's heated through. Squeeze over some lime, sprinkle with fresh coriander and serve with rice.

PRAWN & COCONUT CURRY

Steps:

• Fry the onions, ginger and garlic in the oil for about 10 mins. Stir in the turmeric and coriander, then fry for 1 min more. Tip the mixture into a blender with the tomatoes and creamed coconut, then blend to a purée.
• Return to the pan with 300ml water, the chutney, chilli and pepper and simmer for 10 mins. You can freeze it at this stage.
• Stir in the prawns and cook for a few mins more until they turn pink - take care not to overcook them or they'll become tough. Add the coriander, then season to taste with salt, pepper and lemon juice just before serving.

PRAWN CURRY IN A HURRY

Steps:

• Drizzle some oil from the curry paste jar into a wok or large frying pan, gently heat, then add the onion. Sizzle over a low heat for 4 mins until the onion softens, then stir in the paste and cook for a few mins longer. Stir in the prawns and tomatoes, then bring to a simmer. If using raw prawns, simmer until they have changed colour and are cooked through. Season, if you like, then add the coriander just before serving with boiled rice and naan bread.

PRAWN CURRY

Steps:

• Shell and devein prawns.
• Place prawns in a bowl and pour cream over, cover and chill for 1 hour.
• Chop onion.
• Crush garlic and add salt.
• Melt butter in a heavy pan and saute onion and garlic over a low heat until onion is soft but not coloured.
• Add curry power, still over low heat and cook for about 3 minutes to release aroma.
• Sprinkle plain flour and continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat and add chicken stock, whisking until smooth.
• Return to a higher heat and cook until it boils and thickens.
• Reduce heat and add prawns with the cream, stirring to mix well together and until prawns are heated through.

EASY THAI PRAWN CURRY

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan. Tip in the onion and ginger, then cook for a few mins until softened. Stir in the curry paste, then cook for 1 min more. Pour over the chopped tomatoes and coconut cream. Bring to the boil, then leave to simmer for 5 mins, adding a little boiling water if the mixture gets too thick.
• Tip in the prawns, then cook for 5-10 mins more, depending on how large they are. Serve alongside some plain rice and sprinkle with a little chopped coriander, if you like.