Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Salt Fried Prawns

salt prawns

In Chinese restaurants, this dish is called salt baked prawns but strange enough, the prawns are not baked but fried. Restaurants deep fry everything these days since customers love fried food and frying is quick, convenient and energy-saving. I didn't say anything about health so we don't need to go there.

This is an easy (even guys can cook this; yes, sarcasm intended), quick and very tasty way to cook prawns which are not exactly fresh off the boat. Deep-frying, like the color black, hides a multitude of sins. The only thing I don't like about this dish is that it is oily but you can cut back on the oil a bit by not adding oil during the second frying. This is a dish to cook for a group of rowdy friends and not princesses who fuss over their manicured nails or can't peel the shells themselves. Again, excuse me now as I settle down to watch The Little Nyonya. This episode is going to be so good. I think this is where he marries the woman his grandma chose while the woman he loves is forced to marry a butcher. The Little Nyonya is almost like Cinderella except the bad aunts and cousins are a trillion times worse and the ending is no happily-ever-after fairy tale. Makes all of us more content with our lot.

SALT PRAWNS2

Salt Fried Prawns
12 medium-sized prawns
1/4 cup thinly sliced spring onions
1 T chopped garlic
1/8 t freshly ground black pepper
1 T chopped red chili pepper
1 t salt (medium coarse)
a pinch of msg or chicken powder (optional)
1 1/2 cups veg oil
3 T corn flour

1. Trim the sharp tips of the prawns. Cut the shell along the back, remove the dirt vein but do not peel the shell off. Use kitchen paper to dab-dry the prawns but don't dry it too much.

2. Put the corn flour into a bowl and dredge the prawns lightly to coat the shells.

3. Heat the oil up in a wok. When oil starts to smoke, pick up the prawns by their tails, shake off any extra flour and carefully slip them into the oil. Maintain the high heat so that the shell gets crispy but the flesh remains succulent. Fry them in small batches to keep the heat at high.

4. After about 1 minute, lift the cooked prawns from the oil using a slotted spoon and let the oil drain from the prawns on a plate lined with kitchen paper.

5. Pour all the oil from the wok except for 1 T, return the wok to the stove at medium heat and add the garlic, chicken powder, chili pepper, salt and pepper and stir well to mix. After a couple of seconds, add the prawns and spring onions. Toss well and serve immediately.

14 comments:

jimctang said...

shinning colour.
i had this dish also tonite just now. still feel hungry.

Big Boys Oven said...

I luvthis but mum dont let me to eat too many prawns!

Ju (The Little Teochew) said...

Yummy! I would be crunching the shells too. All the flavours there ...

homeladychef said...

Me too, dislike frying in my kitchen...always have to clean up and worse still, leave burn marks on my skin. I have not forgotten my recent disaster, yet. But nice fried prawn here....

"Joe" who is constantly craving said...

isnt this called salt n pepper style at some places too?

Precious Pea said...

Colour looks really good! Yumm...suddenly thought of octopus tentacles cooked this way. Aiii..hungry again...winter is making me eating nonstop.

Zurin said...

Looks so good and crunchy Terri. YUM!Wish I cld have prawns everyday.sigh.

b said...

Looks delicious!

It's too stressful watching the Little Nyonya....the stepmother/aunts are so sly ....

An interesting twist to the butcher's character right? He's now my hero on the show ;)

Anonymous said...

Thanks Terri, I cooked this and this was as good as the restaurants.

KM

Frequent Reader said...

OMO!!! THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO EAT PRAWNS apart from steaming. And I just had this yesterday. WOOHOO. Wonderful pictures.

terri@adailyobsession said...

jim: a simple but yummy dish ya

bbo: mom's controlling ur diet still?

lilteochew: tt's what i did too, ate the shell up

homelady: get a fryer, less mess

joe: yes it is :)

pp: it's officially summer. out with the bikinis.

zurin: i think it's ok to hav prawns occasionally but don't overload each time

b: u watching it too ?? :D they aren't just sly, they are evil!! do u know they never got together, n yueniang married an angmoh, of all ppl (first singpore sarong girl?) n he ended up marrying libby? n the ending was so sad mediacorp had to make another ending which also was sad bc the lovers never reunited so the singapore audience said they were cheated of a good ending? lol. love this series, so well-done.

km: aw, thanx, glad u like it :)

frequent reader: thank u. u know, u ahv sharp tastebuds. must be ur mom's cooking:)

Katie said...

I absolutely love peeling prawns, but I'm not as passionate about actually eating them, haha. Your prawns do look very delicious though!

TeaLady said...

This looks so good. And I think I can do this one. Will let you know.

Western Dental said...
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