Stir-fried prawns with
honey and spices
 

This dish makes an excellent starter or a tapas dish.  The honey is very important to the flavours.  It is moderated by the saltiness of the soy sauce.  It is good to serve with bread to mop up the juices.  It is also desirable to provide paper napkins and finger bowls to clean sticky hands.

The recipe calls for raw large prawns with their shells on.  It also works very well with other types of prawns.

Preparation Time             10  Mins

Cooking Time                   3  Mins

Elapsed Time                 15  Mins

Ingredients

For     4  portions

1½ tbs            Olive oil

16                  Prawns  - large, raw, shell-on

For the marinade

½ tsp             Chinese five-spice powder

2 cloves           Garlic  - chopped finely

2½ cm             Ginger  - grated

2 tsp               Honey

4 tbs               Sherry  - dry

2 tbs               Soy sauce  - dark

Method

Mix together the marinade ingredients and pour them over the prawns.  Turn them to coat evenly, then cover and marinate for at least an hour.  Turn the prawns occasionally as they marinate.

Take the prawns out of the marinade.  Heat a wok over a high heat until it smokes and then add the oil.  Give it a couple of seconds, then add the prawns and stir-fry for about one minute, until they have all turned pink.  Pour in the marinade and 2 tablespoons of water.  Let the liquids bubble down until they are well reduced and syrupy, stirring constantly — a matter of a few minutes.  Serve immediately.

Wine recommendations

Conventional

          Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur lie

Interesting

          Entre-deux-Mers

          Mâcon

          Montlouis

          Pinot Gris