Are you looking for a quick and easy dinner idea that is sure to impress your family and friends? Look no further than this delicious sweet and sour prawns recipe! With crispy king prawns, stir-fried colourful vegetables and a homemade sweet and sour sauce, this Chinese takeaway classic is easy to make and incredibly tasty.
Preparing the ingredients for this recipe is simple and straightforward. You will need king prawns, colourful vegetables such as red and green bell peppers, and a few simple ingredients to make the sweet and sour sauce. Once you have everything ready, you can start cooking!
To cook the sweet and sour prawns, you'll need to stir-fry the vegetables and prawns in a wok or frying pan, then add the homemade sauce and cook until everything is heated through and the sauce has thickened. Serve over rice or noodles for a complete meal that is sure to satisfy.
Key Takeaways
- This sweet and sour prawns recipe is a quick and easy dinner idea that is sure to impress.
- Preparing the ingredients is simple and straightforward, and the homemade sauce is easy to make.
- To cook the sweet and sour prawns, stir-fry the vegetables and prawns, add the sauce, and cook until heated through and thickened.
Preparing the Ingredients
Selecting the Prawns
When selecting prawns for your sweet and sour prawns recipe, look for fresh, plump, and firm prawns. If possible, choose king prawns as they have a sweet and succulent taste that goes well with the sweet and sour sauce. Make sure to remove the shells and devein the prawns before cooking.
Vegetable Prep
For this recipe, you will need bell peppers, pineapple, carrot, cucumber, and spring onions. Cut the bell peppers into 1-inch chunks, and slice the carrot and cucumber diagonally into thin slices. Cut the pineapple into small chunks and slice the spring onions into small pieces.
Making the Sauce
To make the sweet and sour sauce, you will need cornflour, vinegar, sugar, tomato puree, soy sauce, and pineapple juice. Mix the cornflour with the soy sauce and set it aside. In a separate bowl, mix the vinegar, sugar, tomato puree, and pineapple juice. Stir the cornflour mixture into the bowl with the other ingredients and set it aside.
Garlic and Ginger
Garlic and ginger add a unique flavour to your sweet and sour prawns recipe. Peel and grate the ginger and finely chop the garlic before cooking.
Cooking Method
Stir-Frying the Prawns
To begin, heat up your wok over high heat and add some vegetable oil. Once the oil is hot, add the prawns and stir-fry them for a few minutes until they are cooked through and no longer pink. You can do this in batches if needed.
Combining Ingredients
Next, it's time to make the sweet and sour sauce. In a bowl, mix together soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, and water. Set the sauce aside.
In the same wok, add some more oil and stir-fry some garlic, ginger, and diced chilli for 30 seconds. Then add some red onion, red peppers, pineapple, and water chestnuts, and cook for 2 minutes.
Final Touches
Add the sweet and sour sauce to the wok and stir everything together. Cook for another 2 minutes until the sauce has thickened and everything is coated nicely.
Using a slotted spoon, remove the prawns and vegetables from the wok and place them on a serving dish. Garnish with some coriander leaves and serve with steamed rice, fried rice, or noodles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make sure prawns are full of flavour?
To ensure that your prawns are full of flavour, always buy fresh prawns and avoid frozen ones if possible. If you have to use frozen prawns, make sure to thaw them before cooking. Marinating the prawns in a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sugar can also help to enhance their flavour.
What ingredients go into a classic sweet and sour shrimp dish?
A classic sweet and sour shrimp dish typically includes prawns, pineapple, bell peppers, onions, garlic, ginger, tomato ketchup, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, and cornstarch. Some variations may also include carrots, celery, and green onions.
What's the trick to cooking prawns so they stay succulent?
The trick to cooking prawns so they stay succulent is to avoid overcooking them. Prawns cook very quickly, so it's important to keep an eye on them and remove them from the heat as soon as they turn pink. You can also try poaching the prawns in a flavoured liquid, such as white wine or fish stock, to help keep them moist and flavourful.
What's Gordon Ramsay's method for preparing prawns?
Gordon Ramsay recommends deveining the prawns and removing the shells, but leaving the tails intact. He then seasons the prawns with salt, pepper, and lemon juice before cooking them in a hot pan with olive oil and garlic. Once the prawns are cooked, he adds a splash of white wine and butter to the pan to create a simple sauce.
Can you suggest any tips for a perfect sweet and sour sauce?
To make a perfect sweet and sour sauce, start by combining sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, and tomato ketchup in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce thickens. You can adjust the sweetness and sourness of the sauce to your liking by adding more sugar or vinegar. For a more complex flavour, you can also add ingredients like garlic, ginger, or pineapple juice.
What are some common mistakes to avoid when cooking prawns?
Some common mistakes to avoid when cooking prawns include overcooking them, using too much oil or butter, and not properly seasoning them. It's also important to make sure that the prawns are completely thawed before cooking them, as frozen prawns can release excess water and become rubbery when cooked. Finally, be careful not to overcrowd the pan when cooking the prawns, as this can cause them to steam instead of fry and result in a less crispy texture.