Hey wonderful peeps!! It’s been a while since the last post. The lack of updates were due to yo-yo health problems since Christmas.. There’s a lot about down time that I’m yet to learn and grasp. Like how not to loath spending more time in bed – instead of enjoying the much-needed rest. Like, how I need to learn to “let-go” and allow others to pamper me by over-indulging. But it’s all under control now, so let’s indulge with this deliciously simple Asam Prawns.
Jiu Hu Har (Jicama & Cuttle Fish Stir fry), Asam Prawns (Tamarind Prawn), Gerang Assam (Spicy Sour Fish Curry) – these are some of the dishes my mom cook during my growing up years. My parents have always preferred home cooked food, and we hardly eat out.. which limits my knowledge of other type of food when I was living in Penang. All this while I just thought these dishes are Penang Hokkien/Teochew dishes.. It was only after I moved out that I realised that they are Peranakan Nyonya recipes.
While most Nyonya dishes require many ingredients and tedious preparations, Asam Prawns is surprisingly easy to prepare with only 4 ingredients: asam jawa (tamarind paste), sugar, and salt. Despite the easy recipe, asam prawns are absolutely succulent – the bold and tart tamarind flavours accentuating the sweet delicate flavour of the prawns.
Like me, some of you might hate peeling prawns on dinner table, but it is important to not cook this dish with de-shelled prawns. The juice is in the shells.. The seasoning will naturally sip into the prawn and using your mouth to peel the prawn also ensure that you get to suck on the caramelized bits off it. Trust me, you will suck the tamarind sauce out of the shell clean.
- 600g Big Prawns - cut away the tentacles and devein
- 2 tablespoon Asam Jawa (Tamarind Paste)
- 2 tablespoon Dark Soya Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Cooking Oil
- Mix dark soya sauce, sugar, asam and prawns in a mixing bowl for 5 minutes.
- Heat up cooking oil in the work to medium/high heat
- Add the seasoned prawns and stir fry till the shells starts to show some caramelization. This is a dry sticky dish.
- Serve immediately.
March 20, 2013 at 1:11 PM
Wow I was searching fro prawn dishes and this showed up, this looks really good. So yummy!
Raymund recently posted..Mentatz Japanese Noodle Restaurant (Auckland CBD)
March 20, 2013 at 11:33 PM
Hi Raymund, glad you like this prawn recipe. Hope you get to try it, very simple recipe
February 11, 2013 at 4:16 PM
This looks so delicious! I adore anything with tamarind sauce, especially shrimps!
Rowena (Apron and Sneakers) recently posted..Frappé alla Nutella (Nutella Milkshake) and Camporotondo in Abruzzo
February 18, 2013 at 12:22 AM
Thanks Rowena!
February 6, 2013 at 3:57 PM
Looks so yummy! Feels so hungry after seeing this…
February 6, 2013 at 9:09 PM
Thanks!
February 5, 2013 at 1:19 PM
OMG Shannon! These prawns are amazing! I really need to get some tamarind sauce!
mjskit recently posted..Sauteed Mushrooms with Onion and Spice
February 5, 2013 at 10:31 PM
Thank you MJ!
February 4, 2013 at 9:51 PM
Hi Shannon, Hope you’re feeling better now. (I caught a bad flu-thingy over Christmas too, took a long while to get over).
I love this dish, this is one of my favourite childhood memories. Thanks for sharing.
shaz recently posted..A little love
February 5, 2013 at 10:23 PM
Hi Shaz! Yes, I’m better now, just extremely busy with CNY preparations! The to-do list is too long and not enough time..
February 2, 2013 at 10:24 PM
ok so I ll better listen to you and not peel the prawns before cooking in the Tamarind. Thanks for the tip! Can’t wait to try this. =D
February 2, 2013 at 9:26 PM
What a beautiful looking dish, I thought it’d be much more complicated to cook!
Kelly recently posted..Vanilla and Earl Grey Ice Cream
February 1, 2013 at 8:13 AM
Hi Shannon, my eyes lit up when I saw this dish, my mom used to cook this for us when we were young! I love it very much!
Jeannie recently posted..Bakkwa….BBQ minced pork asian style
February 1, 2013 at 11:05 AM
same here, my childhood dish too 🙂