Spiced Mekong Delta Prawns Tom Huong Cay Food

FENNEL SPICED PRAWNS WITH CITRUS SALAD

Steps:

• Sprinkle the fennel spice evenly over the flesh side of the prawns and let sit, covered and refrigerated, overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet with even curved edge over medium high heat until hot. Lay the prawns, flesh down, against the curved sides of the pan, tails up and heads toward the center of the pan. Press them down with spatula or rest a slightly smaller pan on top of the prawns as a weight, so they cook evenly and rapidly. This will give them a gently curled shape. Cook until they begin to turn pink around the edges, about 2 minutes. Place the pan in the oven until the prawns are evenly pink, about 2 minutes longer.
• Cut the skin and white pith off all the citrus fruits and segment the fruits over a bowl to catch the segments and juices. Season with the salt and pepper and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Toss well, taste for balance and reserve.
• To serve, place 1/4 of the watercress on 4 plates. Toss the citrus mixture again and spoon around and over the watercresss, moistening with juices. Arrange 3 prawns around each salad, standing them in a circle, tails up, and serve hot, warm or at room temperature.
• Fennel Spice Rub:
• 1 cup fennel seeds
• 3 tablespoons coriander seeds
• 2 tablespoons white peppercorns
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt
• Put the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a heavy pan over medium heat. Watch carefully, tossing frequently so the seeds toast evenly. When light brown and fragrant, pour the seeds onto a plate to cool. They must be cool before grinding, or they will gum up the blades.
• Pour the seeds into a blender and add the salt. Blend to a fine powder, shaking the blender occasionally to redistribute the seeds. Store in a tightly sealed glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.
• Yield: about 1 1/4 cups
• Prep Time: 10 minutes

HOT SPICED PRAWNS

Steps:

• Warm the oil in a large wide saucepan, and throw in the scallions, garlic and ginger.
• Stir everything around vigorously until the onions begin to wilt, and then toss in the prawns, stirring again. Cover the pan and let everything cook for about 5 minutes; then, remove the lid and pour in the sherry. Stir again, then cover the pan until the prawns are cooked through and no longer glassy in the middle. Taste; add a sprinkling of salt if you need it. Pour into a large shallow bowl, making sure you don't lose all the bits of onion, garlic and ginger, and take immediately to the table.

SPICY KING PRAWNS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a very large skillet. Add the garlic, paprika (One Tablespoon plus One teaspoon), cumin, ginger and cayenne and cook over moderate heat until fragrant, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring, until they turn pink, 2 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and stir in the cilantro.
• Transfer to a platter and serve.

SPICY SICHUAN-STYLE PRAWNS

Steps:

• Heat a wok over a high heat. Add the groundnut oil and, when it is very hot and slightly smoking, add the ginger, garlic and spring onions. Stir-fry for 20 secs, then add the prawns. Stir-fry for about 1 min, then add all the sauce ingredients, along with ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp ground black pepper. Continue to stir-fry for another 3 mins over a high heat. Serve at once, scattered with the coriander and spring onion.