If you're a fan of noodle soups, you're in for a treat with this delicious prawn mee recipe. Prawn mee, also known as Penang Hokkien mee or Hokkien prawn mee, is a popular Malaysian Chinese dish that's perfect for any occasion. The soup base is made with a generous amount of prawn heads and shells, along with pork bones, to create a thick, creamy, and highly aromatic broth.
The essence of prawn mee lies in the soup base, which is the most important part of the dish. It's what gives the dish its unique flavour and aroma. Prawn shells and heads are used to create a rich and flavourful broth, while pork bones add depth to the soup. The noodles used in prawn mee are typically yellow noodles and thick rice vermicelli, which are perfect for soaking up the delicious broth.
Cooking and serving prawn mee is a breeze, and it's a great dish to prepare for family and friends. You can add your own twist to the recipe by adding different toppings, such as prawns, squid, and sliced pork belly. Serve it with sambal chilli and a squirt of lime juice for an extra kick. In this article, we'll show you how to make prawn mee at home, step-by-step, so you can enjoy this delicious dish anytime you want.
Key Takeaways
- Prawn mee is a popular Malaysian Chinese dish that's perfect for any occasion.
- The soup base is made with prawn heads and shells, along with pork bones, to create a thick, creamy, and highly aromatic broth.
- You can add your own twist to the recipe by adding different toppings, such as prawns, squid, and sliced pork belly.
The Essence of Prawn Mee
If you're a fan of noodle soups, you'll definitely want to try prawn mee. This dish is a speciality among the Malaysian Chinese and is known for its unique and highly aromatic broth. Here's what you need to know about the essence of prawn mee.
History and Origin
Prawn mee is believed to have originated in Penang, Malaysia, where it is a popular hawker dish. It is also commonly found in Singaporean hawker centres. The dish typically consists of noodles, prawns, pork, bean sprouts, eggs, and a rich broth made from prawn stock, pork bones, and chicken stock.
Key Ingredients
The key ingredients in prawn mee are prawns, pork, and noodles. The broth is made by simmering prawn heads and shells, pork bones, and chicken stock for several hours until it becomes thick and aromatic. Other ingredients, such as bean sprouts and eggs, are added to the soup for flavour and texture.
Broth Preparation
To prepare the broth for prawn mee, you'll need to start by boiling a pot of water. Add the prawn heads and shells, pork bones, and chicken stock to the pot and let it simmer for several hours. Skim off any foam or impurities that rise to the surface of the stock. After a few hours, strain the broth and set it aside.
Cooking and Serving
Noodle Selection and Preparation
When it comes to prawn mee, the type of noodles you choose can make a big difference in the overall taste and texture of the dish. Traditionally, yellow noodles, hokkien mee, or rice vermicelli (bee hoon) are used.
Before cooking the noodles, make sure to blanch them in boiling water for a few seconds to remove excess starch and prevent them from clumping together. Then, rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking process.
Assembling the Dish
To assemble the dish, start by simmering prawn heads and shells, along with pork bones, to create a rich and flavourful broth. Add in sugar and salt to taste.
Next, add in the blanched noodles and let them cook in the broth until they are tender and infused with the prawn flavour.
Garnishes and Toppings
Garnishes and toppings are an essential part of prawn mee, as they add texture, flavour, and visual appeal to the dish. Some popular options include sambal chilli paste, lime wedges, and fresh herbs like coriander or parsley.
To make sambal chilli paste, simply blend red chillies, garlic, and shallots together until they form a smooth paste. You can adjust the spiciness level to your liking by adding more or fewer chillies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the secret to a rich and flavourful prawn noodle soup?
The secret to a rich and flavourful prawn noodle soup lies in the broth. To make a delicious broth, you need to use a lot of prawn heads and shells, as well as pork bones. This will give your soup a thick, creamy, and highly aromatic flavour. Simmer the stock for at least 2 hours to allow the flavours of the ingredients to infuse into the stock. Skim off any foam or impurities that rise to the surface of the stock.
How do you make a simple and tasty prawn mee at home?
To make a simple and tasty prawn mee at home, you need to start by preparing the broth. Once the broth is ready, add the noodles and prawns. Garnish with bean sprouts, boiled egg, and chopped scallions. Serve hot with a side of sambal and lime wedges.
Can you share a traditional Chinese prawn mee recipe?
Here's a traditional Chinese prawn mee recipe:
Ingredients:
- 500g prawns
- 500g pork bones
- 500g yellow noodles
- 500g rice noodles
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Boil the pork bones in a pot of water for 2 hours to make the broth.
- In a separate pan, heat the oil and sauté the garlic and onion until fragrant.
- Add the prawns and cook until they turn pink.
- Add the soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and sugar to the prawns and stir well.
- Pour the broth into the pan and bring to a boil.
- Add the yellow noodles and rice noodles to the pan and cook until tender.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot with sambal and lime wedges.
What are the steps to creating a homemade prawn noodle soup paste?
To create a homemade prawn noodle soup paste, you need to grind together the following ingredients in a food processor:
- Dried shrimp
- Shallots
- Garlic
- Chilli paste
- Belacan (shrimp paste)
- Candlenuts
- Lemongrass
- Galangal
Once the ingredients are ground into a paste, add the paste to your prawn noodle soup to enhance its flavour.
How do you prepare sambal for prawn mee to enhance its taste?
To prepare sambal for prawn mee, you need to blend together the following ingredients:
- Dried chillies
- Shallots
- Garlic
- Belacan (shrimp paste)
- Lime juice
Once the ingredients are blended together, serve the sambal on the side with your prawn mee. The sambal will enhance the flavour of the dish and add a spicy kick.
What are the nutritional facts for a typical serving of Penang Hokkien Mee soup?
A typical serving of Penang Hokkien Mee soup contains approximately:
- 350 calories
- 15g protein
- 12g fat
- 45g carbohydrates
- 5g fibre
- 3g sugar
Keep in mind that these nutritional facts can vary depending on the ingredients and preparation method used.