Spicy curry prawns

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Wondering what to cook today? In this daily series, STFood Online Editor Hedy Khoo whips up easy eats to try at home

If you buy seafood from the wet market, it pays to get there early, not just to avoid the crowds, but also because you get your pick of the best.

 

That is how I came by some fine-looking, larger-than-usual angka prawns.

 

That said, if you go at off-peak hours during the weekdays, when the stall holders are starting to pack up for the day around noon, you may be able to pick up good bargains too.

 

My favourite time to go is on rainy days, when few customers venture out and hawkers are more open to giving discounts.

 

My method of selection is simple.

 

If the head is firmly in place and the prawn looks appealing, I will take my chances and go for it.

 

Finicky customers from the prodding school of thought may disagree with my less-than-thorough method, but I have found that when you treat stallholders and their offerings with respect, they are more than happy to help you pick the best from what they have.

 

Back to the recipe for curry prawns, to which I added Thai basil leaves. They lend their unique aromatic fragrance to the dish.

 

This was a tip I picked up from a colleague's wife, who is an excellent cook.

 

Shallots in the spice mixture help to thicken the gravy, such that I find it unnecessary to use coconut milk.

 

You do not have to use too much oil to fry the spice mixture either.

 

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CURRY PRAWNS

 

INGREDIENTS

 

• 6 large prawns (500g)
• 3 Tbs cooking oil
• 250ml water
• 3 Tbs fish sauce
• ¼ tsp salt
• 20g Thai basil leaves

 

INGREDIENTS FOR SPICE PASTE

 

• 1 stalk of lemongrass, use 5cm of the white root part
• 2 buah keras (candlenuts)
• 30g dried chillies
• 2 red finger chillies
• 40g shallots
• 3 garlic cloves
• 10g galangal
• 15g ginger
• 10g fresh turmeric
• 1 turmeric leaf
• 2 kaffir lime leaves
• 1 tsp belacan powder

 

METHOD

 

1. Clean the prawns. Using a pair of kitchen scissors, snip off the front part of the head, including the feelers, eyes, rostrum (the spiky beak) and the front legs. Set aside in the fridge.

 

2. Place ingredients for the spice paste in a grinder and grind into a paste. If using a blender, add a little water to help the blades turn smoothly.

 

3. Heat the cooking oil in a wok and, over low heat, fry the spice paste for 10 minutes.

 

4. Add the water and let it come to a boil.

 

5. Season with fish sauce.

 

6. Add the prawns and simmer for eight minutes or until cooked through.

 

7. Season with salt.

 

8. Garnish with Thai basil leaves.

 

9. Serve hot.

 

Serves two to three

 

Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission.

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