Chinese Stir Fry Prawn Recipes: Quick and Easy Dishes for Busy Weeknights

If you're looking for a quick and easy dinner option, Chinese stir fry prawn recipes are a great choice. These dishes are not only delicious but also packed with protein and healthy vegetables. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned cook, there are plenty of recipes to suit your taste preferences and skill level.

When choosing your prawns, look for fresh, high-quality seafood that is sustainably sourced. King prawns are a popular choice for stir fry recipes, but you can also use other types of prawns or seafood such as scallops or squid. If you're on a budget, frozen prawns can be a good option as long as they are defrosted properly before cooking.

To make a delicious Chinese stir fry prawn dish, you'll need some essential ingredients such as soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil. Don't worry if you don't have all the ingredients on hand, as there are plenty of substitutions you can make to suit your taste. For example, you can use oyster sauce instead of soy sauce, or vegetable oil instead of sesame oil. With a few simple tweaks, you can create a unique and tasty dish that's perfect for any occasion.

Key Takeaways

• Choose fresh, sustainably sourced prawns or seafood for your stir fry recipes.
• Essential ingredients for Chinese stir fry prawn dishes include soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil.
• You can make substitutions to suit your taste preferences and budget.

Choosing Your Prawns

When it comes to making a Chinese stir fry prawn recipe, choosing the right prawns is essential. Prawns are the star of the dish, and you want to make sure you select the best quality prawns to ensure the final product is delicious.

Firstly, it is important to decide whether you want to use fresh, raw, or frozen prawns. Fresh prawns are the best option if you want the most flavourful and juicy prawns. However, they can be expensive and may not be available all year round. Raw prawns are also a great option and can be found in most supermarkets. Frozen prawns are a convenient option and can be used if fresh or raw prawns are not available.

When selecting your prawns, consider the size of the prawns you want to use. Prawns come in various sizes, and the size you choose will affect the cooking time and the overall look of the dish. Small prawns are great for stir-frying, while larger prawns are better for grilling or barbecuing.

If you decide to use fresh prawns, make sure they are peeled and deveined. If you are using raw prawns, you will need to peel and devein them yourself. Deveining the prawns is important as it removes the digestive tract, which can be gritty and unpleasant to eat.

Finally, it is important to note that prawns can be sold with or without the shell and head. If you prefer to use prawns with the shell and head, make sure you remove them before cooking. If you prefer to use prawns without the shell and head, make sure you buy them already peeled.

If you are feeling adventurous, you can also try using other types of seafood in your Chinese stir fry prawn recipe. Squid, scallops, and mussels are all great options and can add a unique flavour to the dish. However, make sure you adjust the cooking time accordingly to ensure the seafood is cooked properly.

Essential Ingredients and Substitutions

When it comes to making Chinese stir fry prawn recipes, there are a few essential ingredients that you'll need to have on hand. Here are some key ingredients and substitutions to consider:

Sauces and Seasonings

• Soy sauce: This is a staple in Chinese cooking and adds a salty, umami flavour to the dish. You can use either light or dark soy sauce, depending on the recipe. If you don't have soy sauce, you can substitute it with tamari or coconut aminos.
• Oyster sauce: This adds a sweet and savoury flavour to the dish. If you're vegetarian or allergic to shellfish, you can substitute it with hoisin sauce or mushroom sauce.
• Rice wine or Shaoxing wine: This adds a depth of flavour to the dish. If you don't have rice wine, you can substitute it with dry sherry or white wine.
• Spring onion: This adds a fresh and oniony flavour to the dish. If you don't have spring onion, you can substitute it with regular onion or scallions.
• Garlic and ginger: These two ingredients add a fragrant and flavourful base to the dish. If you don't have fresh garlic or ginger, you can use garlic or ginger powder instead.
• Pepper and salt: These two ingredients add seasoning to the dish. Use them to taste.

Vegetables and Accompaniments

• Vegetables: You can add any vegetables you like to the stir fry. Some popular options include bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, and mushrooms. If you're looking for a more traditional Chinese stir fry, try using bok choy or Chinese broccoli.
• Seafood: Prawns are a popular choice for Chinese stir fry recipes, but you can also use other types of seafood such as squid or scallops. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
• Oil: Use a neutral oil such as vegetable or canola oil for stir frying. You can also use sesame oil for added flavour.
• Sugar: A small amount of sugar can help balance out the flavours in the dish. You can use white or brown sugar, or even honey.
• Supermarkets: Most of these ingredients can be found in your local supermarket or Asian grocery store.

By using these essential ingredients and substitutions, you can create a delicious and flavourful Chinese stir fry prawn recipe that will impress your guests.

Preparing the Prawns

Prawns are a delicious and versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of Chinese stir fry recipes. Before cooking with prawns, it is important to properly prepare them to ensure that they are clean and ready to use in your dish.

To prepare prawns for a stir fry recipe, start by peeling and deveining them. Using a sharp knife, make a slit down the back of the prawn and remove the black vein. This will help to remove any grit or sand that may be present in the prawn.

Once the prawns have been deveined, you can remove the shell if desired. While the shell can add flavour to your dish, it can also be time-consuming to eat. If you choose to remove the shell, be sure to leave the tail intact for presentation purposes.

When preparing prawns for a stir fry recipe, it is important to keep them cold until you are ready to use them. This will help to prevent spoilage and ensure that they are fresh and flavourful.

If you want to add more variety to your dish, you can also consider using other types of seafood in your recipe. Shrimp, crab, and lobster are all great options that can add a unique flavour and texture to your stir fry. Just be sure to adjust your cooking times accordingly to ensure that your seafood is cooked to perfection.

By properly preparing your prawns and other seafood, you can create a delicious and flavourful Chinese stir fry that is sure to impress.

Cooking Techniques

When it comes to making Chinese stir-fry prawn recipes, there are a few cooking techniques that you should keep in mind to ensure that your dish turns out perfectly.

Mastering the Wok

The wok is an essential tool for making stir-fry dishes. It's important to use a wok that is made of a material that can withstand high heat, such as cast iron or carbon steel. A non-stick wok is also a good option, as it allows you to cook with less oil.

To use the wok properly, you should heat it over high heat until it is smoking hot. Add the oil and swirl it around the wok to coat the surface. Then, add the prawns and stir-fry them until they are cooked through. Be sure to stir constantly to prevent the prawns from sticking to the wok.

Stir-Fry Secrets

When making Chinese stir-fry prawn recipes, it's important to remember a few secrets to ensure that your dish turns out perfectly.

First, use high heat to cook the prawns quickly and prevent them from becoming overcooked. Overcooked prawns can become tough and rubbery.

Second, use a frying pan or wok that is large enough to hold all of the ingredients without overcrowding. Overcrowding the pan can cause the ingredients to steam rather than fry, resulting in a soggy dish.

Finally, use vegetable oil to cook the prawns. Vegetable oil has a high smoke point, which means that it can withstand high heat without burning. It also has a neutral flavour that won't overpower the other ingredients in the dish.

If you want to add some variety to your stir-fry, consider using other types of seafood, such as squid or scallops. These seafood options are also quick-cooking and can be used in place of prawns in many recipes.

Serving Suggestions

Pairing with Rice and Noodles

Chinese stir fry prawn recipes are best served with either rice or noodles. The choice of rice or noodles depends on your preference. If you want a lighter meal, you can pair your prawn stir fry with steamed rice or cauliflower rice. However, if you prefer a more filling meal, you can opt for fried rice or noodle stir fry.

For fried rice, you can use any leftover rice from the previous day. Simply stir fry the rice with some scrambled eggs, vegetables, and prawns to create a delicious meal. If you prefer noodle stir fry, you can use either egg noodles or rice noodles.

Garnishes and Toppings

To add some extra flavour to your Chinese stir fry prawn recipe, you can add some garnishes and toppings. Sesame seeds, spring onions, green onions, or scallions are great options to add some extra flavour and texture to your dish.

You can also add some bell peppers to your stir fry to add some colour and crunch. If you want to add some spice to your dish, you can add some chilli flakes or fresh chillies.

If you want to add some seafood to your stir fry, you can add some squid or scallops. Squid is a great option as it cooks quickly and has a similar texture to prawns. Scallops are also a great option as they are sweet and tender.

Overall, Chinese stir fry prawn recipes are versatile and can be paired with a variety of rice or noodle dishes. Adding some garnishes and toppings can elevate the flavour of your dish.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a quick and easy prawn stir fry I can whip up on a weeknight?

If you're looking for a quick and easy prawn stir fry, try marinating the prawns in soy sauce, garlic, and ginger for 10-15 minutes. Then, heat up a wok or a large skillet over high heat and add some oil. Stir-fry the prawns for 2-3 minutes until they turn pink and are cooked through. You can also add some vegetables like bell peppers, onions, and carrots to the stir fry to make it more nutritious.

How do I make a garlic prawn stir fry with a proper Chinese flavour?

To make a garlic prawn stir fry with a proper Chinese flavour, you can use ingredients like oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, and Shaoxing wine. Marinate the prawns in soy sauce, garlic, and ginger for 10-15 minutes. Then, heat up a wok or a large skillet over high heat and add some oil. Stir-fry the prawns for 2-3 minutes until they turn pink and are cooked through. Add some minced garlic to the wok and stir-fry for a few seconds until fragrant. Finally, add the sauces and wine to the wok and stir-fry for another minute until the prawns are coated in the sauce.

Can you suggest some simple variations of Chinese prawn dishes?

Sure! You can try making Kung Pao prawns, sweet and sour prawns, or prawn chow mein. For Kung Pao prawns, stir-fry the prawns with peanuts, dried chillies, and Sichuan peppercorns. For sweet and sour prawns, stir-fry the prawns with pineapple, bell peppers, and a sweet and sour sauce. For prawn chow mein, stir-fry the prawns with noodles, bean sprouts, and soy sauce.

What vegetables pair well with prawns in a stir fry?

Vegetables that pair well with prawns in a stir fry include bell peppers, onions, carrots, broccoli, snow peas, and mushrooms. You can also add some greens like bok choy or spinach for extra nutrition.

What's the secret to a perfectly seasoned Chinese prawn stir fry?

The secret to a perfectly seasoned Chinese prawn stir fry is to marinate the prawns in soy sauce, garlic, and ginger for at least 10-15 minutes. This will infuse the prawns with flavour and make them more tender. You can also add some sauces like oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, or Shaoxing wine to the stir fry for extra depth of flavour.

How can I incorporate noodles into a prawn stir fry for a fuller meal?

To incorporate noodles into a prawn stir fry for a fuller meal, you can use egg noodles, rice noodles, or udon noodles. Cook the noodles according to the package instructions and set aside. Then, stir-fry the prawns and vegetables in a wok or a large skillet. Add the cooked noodles to the wok and stir-fry for a few minutes until everything is well combined. You can also add some sauce or seasoning to the noodles for extra flavour.