Salt and Pepper Prawns
Salt and Pepper Prawns
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup (60ml) rice wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup (60ml) water
- 1/4 cup (55g) caster sugar
- 2 Lebanese cucumbers
- 1 tbsp sea salt flakes
- 1 tsp black pepper, coarsely ground
- 1/4 tsp ground white pepper
- 1/2 tsp Chinese five spice
- 1/4 cup (45g) white rice flour
- 1kg medium green prawns, peeled, deveined leaving tails intact
- Vegetable oil, to deep-fry
- 1/2 cup coriander leaves
- 1 long red chilli, thinly sliced
Instructions
- 1
Combine the vinegar, water and sugar in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring, for 2 mins or until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and set aside to cool completely.
2 min - 2
Cut one cucumber in half lengthways and remove and discard the seeds. Finely chop and add to the vinegar mixture. Slice the remaining cucumber lengthways into ribbons and set aside.
- 3
Combine the salt, black pepper, white pepper and five spice in a small bowl. Reserve half the salt mixture. Combine the remaining salt mixture in a medium bowl with the rice flour.
- 4
Using a small sharp knife and working from the tail, cut halfway through along the back of each prawn to butterfly.
- 5
Add enough vegetable oil in a medium saucepan to reach a depth of 5cm. Place over medium heat to reach 180C (to test when oil is ready, a cube of bread turns golden brown in 15 seconds). Add the prawns to the rice flour mixture and toss to coat. Cook the prawns, in batches, for 2 mins or until crisp and golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a plate lined with paper towel. Sprinkle the prawns with the reserved salt mixture.
2 min - 6
Arrange the cucumber ribbons, prawns and coriander leaves on a serving platter and sprinkle with chilli. Serve with the cucumber dipping sauce.