Spicy Prawn Poppadoms Recipes

ALESHA DIXON'S SPICY PRAWNS

Steps:

• Peel the prawns, leaving the tails on, then run the tip of a knife down their backs and pull out the vein, meaning they'll butterfly as they cook. Place the prawns in a bowl.
• For marinade 1, peel and finely grate the ginger and garlic, then add to the bowl with the chilli powder, lemon juice, mustard oil and a pinch of sea salt. Toss together and marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, mix all of marinade 2 ingredients together in a bowl with a pinch of salt. When the time's up, mix marinade 2 into the bowl of prawns, then leave while you make the slaw.
• Finely shred the cabbage and lettuce and place in a bowl. Finely slice and add the radishes, then finely chop and add the herb leaves. Grate in the coconut.
• Peel the mango half, then finely slice half of it and add to the bowl, putting the rest aside for the chutney. Squeeze over the lemon juice, drizzle with 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, and toss to coat. Taste and season to perfection.
• To make the chutney, toast the cumin seeds for a couple of minutes, then tip into a blender. Peel and add the garlic and ginger, along with the herbs (discarding any tough stalks). Deseed and add the chilli, followed by the rest of the chutney ingredients, the reserved mango and a handful of ice cubes, then blitz.
• Melt the butter in a large pan over a medium-high heat, then add the prawns with any remaining marinade and fry for 5 minutes, or until the prawns are pink and cooked through, turning regularly.
• Serve the sizzling prawns with the mint chutney and slaw. Delicious with dollop of raita and poppadoms, if you fancy.

PAPADAMS

Steps:

• Stir together the flour, pepper, ground cumin seed, and salt in a large bowl or in the food processor; mix thoroughly until the spices are evenly distributed.
• Add the garlic and mix well.
• Add enough of the water to form a dough that will hold together in a cohesive ball; if necessary, add up to 1 additional tablespoon water.
• The dough should be fairly stiff and dry; if it is too wet, it will not roll well.
• Knead the dough for about 5 minutes by hand or pulse for about 15 seconds in the food processor; the dough should be smooth.
• With your hands, shape the dough into a cylinder or log about 2 inches thick and 6 inches long.
• With a sharp knife, cut the cylinder into 1/2-inch thick slices.
• The next step uses oil, so do not use your pastry cloth and rolling pin sleeve.
• Place each slice on a lightly oiled surface.
• Lightly oil the top of the slice and then roll out into a very thin circle about 6 or 7 inches in diameter.
• Papadams must be rolled extremely thin, maximum 1/16 inch.
• If the dough sticks to your rolling pin, gently pull it off.
• Dust the tops of each papadam with cayenne pepper.
• Using a metal spatula to loosen the edges of the papadams from the rolling surface, carefully place them on large baking sheets.
• The traditional method for preparing and frying papadams is described below; you can also bake them in a 300F oven for about 15 to 25 minutes, or until crisp and dry.
• The cooking time may vary beyond this range depending upon the thickness and moisture in the rolled dough.
• Cool them on a rack.
• To prepare the papadams in an authentic manner, don't bake them; first allow them to dry by leaving them in the sun for a few hours or by placing them in a very low oven (less than 200F) for 1 to 2 hours, turning occasionally.
• Dry the papadams until they are just slightly flexible and show no moisture; they should not brown or bake, however.
• At this point, the papadams may be stacked flat and stored in an airtight container until needed; they will keep for months if stored properly.
• When ready to serve, heat about 1/8 inch of oil in a large skillet; the oil should be hot, but not smoking; a drop of water flicked into the skillet should sizzle immediately.
• One at a time, drop the papadams into the hot oil.
• Turn the papadam when it begins to curl at the edges; it will quickly fry and become crisp.
• Remove it before it turns brown.
• Cool and drain the papadams on paper towels and eat them immediately.

CANAPéS & COCKTAILS

Steps:

• Spicy prawn skewers Marinate 150g cooked prawns in zest and juice 1 lime, 1 tbsp soy sauce, ½ finely chopped chilli, 2 tsp grated fresh root ginger and 1 tsp clear honey for 20 mins-1 hr. To serve, lay each prawn on a baby spinach leaf and thread a cocktail stick through (makes 28).
• Stuffed prosciutto balls Mash 100g feta with ½ finely chopped chilli, 2 tsp chopped mint and zest and juice ¼ lemon. Roll into 24 small balls. Quarter 6 prosciutto slices lengthways, then wrap each prosciutto strip around a feta ball (makes 24).
• Cucumber salmon Cut 1 large cucumber into 20 thick slices and scoop out some of the seedy middle, leaving a dip. Mix 200ml crème fraîche with zest 1 lemon and freshly ground black pepper, then spoon 1 tsp into each dip. Top with a piece smoked salmon, lemon zest and some black pepper (makes 20).
• Festive crackers Take 20 small crackers (we used Morrisons Gouda cheese & mixed seeds cracker bites) or 20 homemade crostini. Spread 1 tsp red pesto onto each cracker, top each with a piece of mozzarella from a 125g ball and garnish with basil leaves (makes 20).
• Curried chicken poppadums Arrange a 75g tub mini poppadums on a plate and slice 85g cooked chicken so there's 1 piece per poppadum. Mix together ½ tsp curry powder, 100ml crème fraîche and zest ½ lemon, put 1 tsp in each poppadum with ½ tsp mango chutney, then finish with a slice of chicken and some chopped coriander. Best assembled just before serving so the poppadums stay crisp (makes 20).
• Christmas mojitos Put 140g fresh or frozen cranberries, a handful mint and 2 tbsp brown sugar in a bowl. Crush with the end of a rolling pin, then add a couple of handfuls of crushed ice and stir to mix. Add a shot of vodka to 6-8 tall glasses, divide the cranberry crush between them, then top up with cranberry juice and sparkling water (serves 6-8).

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.