Spiced Mekong Delta Prawns Tom Huong Cay Recipes

SALT AND PEPPER TIGER PRAWNS: TOM RANG MUOI

Steps:

• Dry roast the salt, pepper, and five spice pepper in a pan. Remove from the heat, allow to cool, then combine with the sugar and mix well. Set aside. In a deep fry pan or wok, bring the oil to 350 degrees F. Dust the prawns in the flour and fry 2 prawns at a time in order to keep the oil at a constant high heat. Cook the prawns about 1 minute. Remove the prawns and place on a rack set over a baking sheet or on kitchen paper towels to absorb the excess oil. Repeat with the remaining prawns and set aside. Carefully remove the fry pan or wok from the heat. Place a separate fry pan over medium heat, and add a dash of oil. Next add the garlic, red shallots, chile, and spring onion, and cook until fragrant. Now add the fried prawns, tossing as you sprinkle the salt, pepper, and five spice mixture, making sure you coat the prawns well. Remove the prawns and serve with lime.

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.

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

SPICED PRAWNS WITH MEXICAN BEAN STEW & AVOCADO SALSA

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and gently fry the garlic and chipotle paste for 1 minute, then add the beans, the tomatoes and 100 milliliters (1/2 cup) water. Season well with salt and pepper and bubble for 15 minutes until thickened and no longer raw-tasting.
• Add the prawns and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until they are pink all over.
• Meanwhile, mix the avocados with the onion and lime juice. Season well, drizzle over the extra-virgin olive oil and stir in half the cilantro.
• Scatter the rest of the cilantro over the bean and prawn stew and serve with the salsa.