Honey Sesame Prawns Recipes

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.)

HONEY AND SESAME SHRIMPS

Steps:

• In a frying pan, brown the onion in butter. Add garlic, honey, lime juice, soy sauce and peppers flakes. Let reduce until the mixture is caramelized. Pour half of this mixture in a bowl.
• Add half the shrimps and sesame seeds in the frying pan. Salt and pepper.
• Cook 2 minutes at high high without stirring.
• Stir and keep on cooking 1 to 2 minutes at high heat. Add chives. Set aside at a place that is hot to keep it hot.
• Wash the frying pan. Heat the remaining mixture of onions (you did first) at high heat. Add the remaining shrimps and repeat the same steps for the cooking method.
• You can adjust the seasonning. Serve on rice.

HONEY, SESAME & ORANGE KING PRAWNS

Steps:

• Mix the oil, orange zest and juice, honey, soy and vinegar in a bowl, then combine the cornflour, sesame seeds, five-spice and a pinch of salt in another bowl. Run a small knife down the back of each prawn, so they butterfly out as they cook, helping more sauce stick to them.
• Toss the prawns through the cornflour mixture. Heat the oil in a large wok or frying pan. When it's very hot, add the garlic. Sizzle for 10 secs, but don't let it brown. Add the prawns and any flour and seeds left in the bowl. Stir-fry over a high heat for a few minutes, until the prawns are pink and the sesame seeds are golden. Tip the prawns onto a plate and pour the sauce mixture into the wok. Bubble for a few minutes until thickened. Add the prawns back to the wok and stir to coat in the sauce. Heat through for another 30 seconds. Top with spring onions and serve with rice.