steamed prawns with minced garlic

Another dish adapted from Sam Leong's cookbook, which is proving to be very useful for cooking Chinese food. I used gray prawns instead of tiger prawns because apparently gray prawns are better used for steaming with a less "crunchy" texture compared to tiger prawns. I also decided on using medium sized prawns instead of the large ones suggested by the recipe as smaller prawns are supposed to be sweeter, and not to mention, kinder to the pocket. Ha


Steamed Prawns with Minced Garlic (adapted from Sam Leong)

500g fresh(est) prawns - about 20prawns
Small handful of glass vermicelli soaked in water for 30minutes
2 bulbs of garlic, peeled and minced
1 tbsp deep-fried crispy minced garlic
1/2tsp salt
cornstarch mixture = 1/2tsp cornflour dissolved in 2tsp water
cooking oil
1 finely chopped spring onion
1 cup homemade soy sauce*

Buy the freshest prawns you can find in the market and start by preparing the prawns. Trim off 1cm of the head and the legs, leaving the shell and tail on. Cut the prawns in half lengthwise and remove the veins. I find that this can be easily done using a good pair of kitchen scissors. Arrange the prepared prawns on a steaming plate.

Drain the vermicelli and dip into hot water for 10seconds. Drain well and put on the steaming plate with the prawns. Note that this is a good time for creativity as it can affect the aesthetics of the dish.

Combine minced garlic, crispy minced garlic, salt, cornstarch mixture and 2 tbsp of oil, I cut it to 1 tbsp, and pour over the prawns.

Steam for 3-4 minutes, or until prawns are cooked. Garnish with spring onion.
Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a wok and pour over spring onion. I did not do this as who needs the extra oil in their diet?
Do the same with the homemade soy sauce
Serve immediately.

This is an easy dish which is both pleasing to the eye and the stomach. Great for dinner parties as it can be prepared in advanced and steaming can be done when the dinner guests are seated. The prawns turned out to be sweet, succulent and garlicky. Yummilicious

Serves 4