Crispy Noodle Wrapped Prawns With Rice Wine Dipping Sauce Recipes

SHRIMP RICE NOODLE ROLLS (SHRIMP CHEUNG FUN OR "HA CHEUNG")

Steps:

• Toss the cleaned shrimp with 2 tablespoons water, 1/2 teaspoon sugar and 1/8 teaspoon baking soda. After the shrimp have been coated, cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• After 2 hours, rinse the shrimp under a gentle stream of cold running water for 5 minutes to wash away the sugar and baking soda and pat thoroughly dry with a paper towel. This will greatly improve the texture of the shrimp!
• Marinate the shrimp with 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil, a pinch of salt, 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch, and 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper. Cover and return to the refrigerator while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
• Prepare the sauce by adding all the ingredients to a small saucepan over medium low heat. Heat the sauce until it begins to simmer, and turn off the heat. Cool completely and remove the ginger and scallion. You can store this sauce in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
• Combine the rice flour, mung bean starch, wheat starch, cornstarch, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the water and stir for at least three minutes until dry ingredients are well dissolved. Set aside and allow time for any air bubbles to dissipate.
• Soak the cotton cloth in water so it's completely saturated. Prepare a large assembly station by brushing some oil on a clean, smooth surface like a non-porous countertop, a large flat plate, or a smooth cutting board.
• Pre-boil water in your steamer with the lid on (more on how to set up a steamer here), and make sure your steamer fits the flat-bottomed pan you will use to steam the rice noodles. I used a 9 x 13 non-stick sheet pan. This recipe makes 2 full sheets of rice noodles in this sized pan (equivalent to almost 3 dim sum orders).
• First, place the shrimp in a single layer on a plate, and steam them for 2 minutes. Remove them immediately and set aside.
• Now lift the soaking wet cotton cloth out of the water and line the bottom of the pan with it. (Do not wring out the water.) Stir the rice-flour liquid mixture well again before adding just enough to cover the cloth at the bottom of the pan completely. Too much will make the rice noodle too thick. With the water in your steamer boiling, use the plate gripper and carefully lower the pan into the steamer, immediately cover the lid and steam on high for 2 minutes. (MAKE SURE THE PAN IS PERFECTLY LEVEL, or the noodle will be too thick on one side and too thin on the other.)
• Then remove the pan from the steamer with the plate gripper and position it next to your assembly station.
• Carefully lift the cloth out of the pan, and place (rice noodle side down) onto the oiled surface. Use the dough scraper and carefully scrape the rice noodle sheet off the cotton cloth onto the oiled surface. Scrape and peel off the cotton cloth at the same time. This step must happen quickly while the noodle and cotton cloth are still hot. The noodle might have a small hole here or there--don't fret. It does not affect the overall end result.
• Cut the rice noodle in half crosswise and line up four cooked shrimp along the edge of each piece. Roll the rice sheet using the plastic dough scraper to wrap up the shrimp. At this point, you'll have two long rolls. Cut each in half, drizzle with the prepared sauce, and eat it while it's hot.
• Rinse the cotton cloth in clean water (no soap or detergent necessary) to remove rice residue before making the next one. These are best when fresh. In this case, we discourage leftovers! Good thing the rice batter is so easy to make!

CRISPY EGG NOODLE-WRAPPED SHRIMP

Steps:

• For the shrimp: Pat the shrimp dry thoroughly with a paper towel and place in a large bowl. Toss the shrimp with the hot sauce and onion powder.
• Coat a large saute pan with cooking spray and place over medium heat. Add the shrimp to the pan and cook, being careful not to brown or overcook, until opaque, 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Set aside the shrimp and let cool.
• Starting at the top of each shrimp, wrap 6 to 8 strands of noodles around the shrimp until reaching the tail (do not wrap the noodles too tightly). Tuck in any loose ends.
• Add enough oil to fill a small saucepot halfway. Heat the oil over medium-high heat to 350 to 375 degrees F. Gently lower the shrimp into the oil with a slotted spoon. Fry in batches until the noodles are crispy and light golden brown, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Drain the shrimp on a paper towel or cooling rack.
• For the sweet soy dipping sauce: Whisk together the soy sauce, honey and scallions in a small bowl. Serve on the side with the shrimp.
• For the spicy chili aioli: Whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, hot sauce and vinegar in a small bowl. Serve on the side with the shrimp.

CRISPY NOODLE WRAPPED PRAWNS WITH RICE WINE DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Begin by making the dipping sauce: place the vinegar and the sugar in a small pan and bring to the boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat, add the sliced chilli and leave to cool completely. If you want to get ahead, the sauce can be made a day or two before you need it, then keep covered in the fridge.
• Cook the egg noodles in a pan of boiling water. Drain well, then cool in cold water and then drain again. Gently heat 5cm of oil in a deep pan.
• Shell the prawns, leaving the tail section intact. Pass a short bamboo skewer through the prawn from top to tail. Place a slice of mango on each prawn and season with a little salt. Gather about six strands of noodle and wrap them around the prawn to secure together the prawn and the mango. Repeat to make 12 prawn sticks.
• Testthe oil temperature with a piece of noodle: it should turn crisp and golden in about 1 minute. Cook the prawns in batches for 2-3 minutes until the noodles are crisp and the prawns are pink. Drain on kitchen paper and serve hot with small bowls of the dipping sauce. You may choose to slid the prawns off the sticks before serving, or leave them on. Decorate with sprigs of corriander and wedges of lime, to serve.

HONEY PRAWNS - STAYS CRISPY FOR AGES!

Steps:

• Salt prawns: Mix prawns with salt. (Don't do this ahead, salt makes prawns sweat = compromise crispy coating!)
• Dust: Place 1/2 cup cornflour/cornstarch in a bowl. Dip prawn in, shake off excess then put on a plate. Repeat with all prawns.
• Chill dry ingredients: Whisk together flour, cornflour/cornstarch, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Place in fridge while oil heats up. (Helps keep batter cold, cold batter = crispier prawns)
• Heat oil: Fill small pot or large saucepan with 4cm / 1.7" oil. Heat to 160°C/320°F on medium high stove.
• Make cold batter: When the oil is near target temp, add soda water into the dry ingredients. Then do the minimum whisks to just combine (10 or so) - a few lumps ok, better than whisking too much (changes coating texture).
• Batter thickness: Should fully coat prawns easily, not be see-through, but not thick and heavy. See video at 38 seconds for cues. Use extra soda water 1 teaspoon at a time to achieve right thickness.
• Dredge: Holding a prawn by the tail, dip into the batter then hold up for a 2 seconds to let the excess batter drip off. Then carefully place in oil. Repeat with another 5 prawns (6 per batch).
• 3 minutes Fry #1: Cook for 3 minutes until light golden and crispy. When you pick them up, you can tell it's very crispy.
• Drain and repeat: Place prawns on a tray with paper towels. Repeat with remaining prawns. I cook in 4 batches. Don't crowd the pot as it brings oil temperature down too much.
• Cool prawns for 20 minutes (Note 5). Meanwhile, make Sauce.
• Simmer: Place ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to simmer, turn down stove to medium low then leave to simmer for 3 minutes.
• Syrupy consistency: The consistency should be like maple syrup (see video). Turn off stove, place lid on to keep warm (when cool, it gets too thick to toss prawns in it).
• Heat oil to 200°C/390°F.
• 3 minutes Fry #2: Place half the prawns in oil (you can crowd the pot for Fry #2). Cook for 3 minutes or until it changes from pale golden to very golden, then remove to a paper towel-lined plate. You can tell by touching that it's built-to-last crispy! More golden = crispier (but don't overcook the prawns!) Repeat with remaining prawns.
• Quickly toss: Transfer prawns to a metal bowl then pour over Honey Sauce. Quickly toss with rubber spatula to coat prawns in sauce. (Sauce starts thickening if you take too long, so be quick!)
• Garnish: Pile prawns over crispy rice noodles (if using), scatter with sesame seeds, green onion and serve!
• At any point while oil is hot, drop a wad of noodles into hot oil, wait 3 seconds until it puffs up, then remove with tongs.
• Drain on paper towels, place on plate. Top with prawns! (Note: Crispy noodles stays crispy "forever" so you can do this well ahead. Not for eating - is flavourless.)

SHRIMP RICE-PAPER ROLLS WITH VIETNAMESE DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• For dipping sauce:
• Whisk all ingredients in medium bowl until sugar dissolves. Let stand at least 30 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.)
• For rice-paper rolls:
• Heat oil in medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Cool.
• Place rice sticks in large bowl; add enough hot water to cover. Let stand until softened, about 30 minutes. Drain. Cut into 6-inch lengths; set aside. Fill same bowl with warm water. Add 1 rice-paper sheet and turn until beginning to soften, about 30 seconds (sheet will still be stiff in a few spots). Remove from water; drain on kitchen towel. Repeat with 5 more rice-paper sheets, arranging in single layer.
• Divide half of mint, cilantro, and basil among softened rice-paper sheets, arranging in line across lower third of each sheet and leaving 1-inch border on each end. Top with half of rice sticks, shaping into compact log. Top with half of lettuce, sprouts, cucumber, carrot, shrimp, and mushrooms. Fold bottom of each rice sheet over filling, then fold in ends and roll into tight cylinder. Place rolls, seam side down, on platter. Repeat soaking with remaining rice-paper sheets, then top with remaining filling to form 6 more rolls. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover with damp paper towel and plastic wrap; chill.) Cut each roll diagonally into thirds. Arrange on platter and serve with sauce.
• *Available at Asian markets.

CHEAT'S CHILLI PRAWN NOODLES

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a wok or deep frying pan. Toss in the onion, squeeze in the coriander purée and sprinkle over the crushed chillies to taste (go easy at this stage). Stir fry for 5 minutes until the onion is softened but not browned.
• Pour in the tomatoes and 11⁄2 canfuls of hot water, add the tomato purée and sprinkle over the bouillon powder. Season well. Bring to a bubble, stirring, then lower the heat a little and let the sauce simmer for about 15 minutes until slightly reduced but still sloppy. While the sauce is simmering, break the noodles into a bowl and pour in enough boiling water to cover. Stir and set aside.
• When the sauce is ready, drain the noodles and tip them into the sauce with the frozen prawns. Stir well and heat through for 2 minutes only - just to defrost and heat the prawns. Taste for seasoning and add more chilli flakes and a little sugar if you like. Serve in bowls with spoons and pass round chunky hot bread for scooping up the last of the sauce.