Fried Prawns with Chilli, Garlic and Salt

Seafood lovers, are your drooling? Look at these big beautiful prawns my dad gave me.

They came back with me by air, beautifully frozen and neatly packed. Thanks Pa! 

Before the Chinese New Year, my dad bought a whole lot of fish and prawns. On the day I arrived home with my brother, my mum prepared a feast of fried fish with taucheow (beanpaste) and these gorgeous prawns.

My mum's fried prawns. Plain and simple but oh so delicious!

I have never been a seafood enthusiast (I prefer chicken anytime) but I relished the prawns! My mum fried the prawns with just salt and yet they tasted so good. The fish was also fantastic and will be featured in a future post.

When I gratefully agreed to bring home a packet of prawns, my mum suggested that I try the prawns with the classic mixture of chillies, garlic and salt (we call it "han chio eam"). This trinity of ingredients combine to give you an explosion of flavours which you simply have to try it to believe it.

I defrosted these huge prawns overnight in the fridge and brought them out to room temperature before carefully frying them, one at a time in hot oil.

There was some degree of splattering but I am now immune to these minor explosions after earlier experience frying fish. Oh well, I would endure any number of explosions just to eat this :)

After mixing the fried prawns with the aromatic fried chilli, garlic and salt mix, it was time to get my hands dirty. 

Get down and dirty - peel the shells and dip the prawns into the spice paste and oil. 

Total ecstasy I tell you! I served these prawns with my mum's French Salad and it was a perfect low carb meal. 

Thanks again Pa for the prawns and Mummy for the inspiring recipe!

Fried Prawns with Chilli, Garlic and Salt

Recipe source : Phong Hong

Ingredients :

- 8 large prawns

- enough oil to fry the prawns

Chilli, Garlic and Salt paste :

- 8 dried chillies, soaked to soften

- 2 fresh red chillies

- 10 cloves garlic

- 1 tsp salt or to taste

Method :

1. Heat oil in wok and deep fry the prawns until cooked. Drain on paper towels and set aside.

2. Blend chillies, garlic and salt.

3. In the same oil used to fry the prawns, saute the paste until it is aromatic and slightly browned.

4. Return the prawns into the wok and stir to evenly coat the prawns with sauteed ingredients.

5. Serve immediately.