Aromatic Tiger Prawns

P_D's Note:

These are delicious oriental tasting appetizers.

• Total Time: 35 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 8

Yield: 8.0 skewers

• 16 raw tiger prawns (jumbo shrimp)
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon fennel seed
• 5 peppercorns
• 1 star anise , broken into pieces
• 1 cinnamon stick , broken into pieces
• 2 tablespoons peanut oil
• 2 cloves garlic , minced
• ¾ inch piece ginger , peeled and finely chopped
• 1 shallot , chopped
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• salt
• pepper
• lime slice
• green onion , chopped

Directions:

1. Peel the prawns, but leave tails intact. Cut along the back and remove the dark vein.
2. Thread the prawns in pairs on 8 small skewers.
3. Heat a heavy frying pan, add the chili powder, fennel seeds, peppercorns, start anise and cinnamon sticks and dry-fry for 1-2 minutes to release the flavours.
4. Leave to cool, then grind coarsely in a grinder or tip into a mortar and crush with pestle.
5. Heat the peanut oil in a shallow pan, add the garlic, ginger and chopped shallot and cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally, until very lightly colored. Add crushed spices, season with salt and pepper and the cook the mixture gently for 5 minutes.
6. Add rice vinegar and brown sugar, stir until dissolved, and then add the prawns. Cook for about 3-5 minutes, until they turn pink, but are still juicy.
7. Serve hot and garnish with lime wedges and green onion.