Butter Prawn Recipe Chinese Style: A Guide to Crafting a Palatable Seafood Feast

If you're looking for a delicious and easy-to-make dish that's sure to impress, look no further than the butter prawn recipe Chinese style. This dish combines succulent prawns with rich butter and a variety of spices and seasonings to create a flavour explosion that's sure to delight your taste buds. Whether you're an experienced cook or a beginner in the kitchen, this recipe is sure to become a favourite in your household.

To make this dish, you'll need a few key ingredients, including fresh prawns, butter, garlic, and a variety of spices and seasonings. While the recipe is traditionally made with prawns, you can also experiment with other types of seafood, such as crab or lobster, to create your own unique twist on this classic dish. Once you've gathered your ingredients, the preparation process is simple and straightforward, making this dish a great choice for busy weeknights or special occasions.

So why not give the butter prawn recipe Chinese style a try today? With its rich, buttery flavour and succulent prawns, it's sure to become a favourite in your household. Whether you're cooking for yourself or entertaining guests, this dish is sure to impress.

Key Takeaways

• The butter prawn recipe Chinese style is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that combines succulent prawns with rich butter and a variety of spices and seasonings.
• While the recipe is traditionally made with prawns, you can also experiment with other types of seafood to create your own unique twist on this classic dish.
• With its rich, buttery flavour and succulent prawns, this dish is sure to become a favourite in your household.

Ingredients and Substitutions

When it comes to making a Chinese-style butter prawn dish, selecting the right ingredients is key to achieving the perfect balance of flavours. Here are some things to consider when choosing your ingredients and possible substitutions:

Choosing the Right Prawns

To make this dish, you'll need fresh and juicy prawns. You can use either shelled or unshelled prawns, depending on your preference. If you are using unshelled prawns, make sure to devein them before cooking. Alternatively, you can use other types of seafood such as scallops, squid or crab as a substitute.

Butter and Oil Varieties

Butter is the star of this dish, and it's important to use good quality butter to achieve the best flavour. You can use unsalted or salted butter, depending on your preference. For a healthier option, you can substitute butter with olive oil or coconut oil. However, keep in mind that these oils will change the flavour of the dish.

Aromatic Additions

For an extra burst of flavour, you can add aromatic ingredients such as garlic, spring onions, coriander, and parsley. These ingredients will add a delicious fragrance to the dish and enhance its overall taste. You can also add chilli flakes or bird's eye chilli for a spicy kick.

Seasoning for Taste

To season the dish, you can use oyster sauce, soy sauce, lemon juice, salt, and sugar. These ingredients will help to balance the flavours and give the dish a savoury and slightly sweet taste. You can also add black pepper to enhance the flavour of the dish.

The key to making a delicious Chinese-style butter prawn dish is to use fresh and high-quality ingredients. Experiment with different combinations of ingredients to find the perfect balance of flavours that suit your taste.

Preparation Before Cooking

Before you start cooking your Chinese-style butter prawns, there are a few things you need to do to prepare. Here are some tips to make sure your prawns are clean, deveined, and well-marinated for maximum flavour.

Cleaning and Deveining Prawns

The first thing you need to do is clean and devein your prawns. This will help remove any dirt, sand or other impurities that may be present on the shell. To do this, use a pair of scissors to cut off the head of the prawn and remove the shell. Then, use a small knife to cut along the back of the prawn to remove the vein. Rinse the prawn under cold water to make sure it's clean.

Marinating for Flavour

Once your prawns are clean and deveined, it's time to marinate them for flavour. You can use a variety of seasonings to marinate your prawns, but for Chinese-style butter prawns, we recommend using soy sauce, Chinese cooking wine, garlic, and spring onions. You can also add some seafood like squid or scallops to the marinade for extra flavour.

To marinate your prawns, simply mix the seasonings together in a bowl and add the prawns. Make sure the prawns are well-coated in the marinade and let them sit for at least 30 minutes to absorb the flavours. You can also marinate the prawns overnight for even more flavour.

By following these simple steps, you'll have perfectly clean, deveined, and well-marinated prawns ready to cook your Chinese-style butter prawns.

Cooking Process

Managing the Heat

To achieve the perfect texture and flavour for your Chinese-style butter prawns, it's important to manage the heat properly. Start by heating your pan on medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add your oil and let it heat up for a few seconds. Then, add your minced garlic and fry until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic as it can affect the overall taste of the dish.

Achieving the Perfect Texture

When frying the prawns, it's important to get them golden brown and crispy. To do this, coat the prawns with cornflour and salt just before frying. This will help to create a crispy exterior. Fry the prawns in hot oil over high heat until they turn golden brown. Be careful not to overcook them, as this can cause them to become tough and chewy.

Layering the Flavours

To achieve the perfect balance of flavours, it's important to layer them properly. Start by frying the garlic until fragrant, then add the prawns and fry until golden brown. Once the prawns are cooked, remove them from the pan and set them aside. In the same pan, melt the butter and add a pinch of sugar to create a sweet and savoury sauce. Add the prawns back into the pan and coat them in the sauce. Finally, sprinkle some chopped spring onions on top for a fresh and fragrant finish.

If you're looking to add more seafood to your butter prawn recipe, consider using other shellfish such as scallops or mussels. These can be cooked in the same way as the prawns, and will add a delicious depth of flavour to the dish.

Serving and Presentation

When it comes to serving and presentation of Chinese-style butter prawns, there are a few things to consider to make the dish look and taste great.

Accompaniments and Pairings

Chinese-style butter prawns are best served with steamed rice. The rice will absorb the delicious buttery sauce and complement the sweetness of the prawns. You can also pair the dish with bread to mop up the sauce.

If you're looking to add some extra flavour to the dish, you can serve it with some chopped spring onions. The freshness of the spring onions will add a nice contrast to the richness of the buttery sauce.

Garnishing for Appeal

To make the dish look more appealing, you can garnish it with some lemon zest. The zest will add a pop of colour and a refreshing citrus flavour to the dish.

When it comes to seasoning, Chinese-style butter prawns are already packed with flavour. However, you can add some additional seasoning to taste. Be careful not to over-season as it can overpower the natural sweetness of the prawns.

If you're looking to add some variety to the dish, you can also use other types of seafood. For example, you can use lobster or crab instead of prawns. This will add a different texture and flavour to the dish.

Chinese-style butter prawns are a delicious and easy-to-make dish that's perfect for any occasion. With the right accompaniments and garnishing, you can make the dish look and taste even better.

Nutritional Information

If you're looking for a delicious and savoury seafood dish, then butter prawns are an excellent choice. This Chinese-style recipe is known for its buttery, spicy and creamy taste, making it a favourite among many seafood lovers.

When it comes to calories, butter prawns are a relatively high-calorie dish due to the butter used in the recipe. However, this doesn't mean you should avoid it altogether. Instead, you can enjoy this dish in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

To make the dish slightly healthier, you can use alternative ingredients such as olive oil instead of butter. You can also add vegetables to the recipe, such as broccoli or green beans, to increase the nutritional value of the dish.

When it comes to the type of seafood used in the recipe, prawns are the most common choice. However, you can also use other types of seafood such as crab or lobster to make the dish even more flavourful.

Overall, butter prawns are a delicious and indulgent seafood dish that can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the secret to making prawns juicy and tender?

The secret to making prawns juicy and tender is to avoid overcooking them. Prawns cook quickly, and overcooking can make them tough and rubbery. Cook them just until they turn pink and opaque. You can also marinate them in a mixture of salt, sugar, and cornstarch before cooking to help them retain moisture.

How do I prepare a simple and creamy butter prawn dish?

To prepare a simple and creamy butter prawn dish, start by sautéing minced garlic and chopped onions in butter until fragrant. Add in the prawns and cook until they turn pink and opaque. Then, add in some cream and simmer until the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Can you suggest a Malaysian twist to the classic butter prawn recipe?

For a Malaysian twist to the classic butter prawn recipe, you can add some curry leaves, bird's eye chillies, and belacan (shrimp paste) to the dish. This will give the dish a spicy and aromatic flavour that is popular in Malaysian cuisine.

What are the essential ingredients for an authentic Chinese-style butter prawn?

The essential ingredients for an authentic Chinese-style butter prawn are prawns, butter, garlic, and soy sauce. Other optional ingredients include ginger, scallions, and Chinese cooking wine.

What's the best way to serve butter prawns for a special occasion?

Butter prawns can be served as a main dish or as an appetizer. For a special occasion, you can serve them with steamed rice and stir-fried vegetables. You can also garnish the dish with chopped scallions and sesame seeds for added flavour and presentation.

Could you explain how 'butter prawn' is referred to in Cantonese cuisine?

In Cantonese cuisine, butter prawn is known as "su chao xia". "Su chao" means butter stir-fry, and "xia" means prawns. This dish is popular in Cantonese cuisine and is often served in seafood restaurants.