Dinner this evening was one just for my cravings. I love, love, love garlic prawns/shrimp and that's what my heart and tummy were aching for.
Super Easy peasy recipe with a couple of hacks to help make life in the kitchen a little easier.
HACKS
#1
Don't even bother peeling and chopping the garlic. Use the microwave hack that we've have all seen online by now I'm sure. If not here is the gist of it. You basically grab a whole bulb of garlic peel and all. Cut off the root part and pop it in the microwave for some seconds (not sure what the exact time is) then carefully take it out and peel it. Super easy and much faster than the conventional way.
Now what I do use the oven instead. I cut the bulb in half and roast int the oven with a tiny bit of butter for about 10-15minutes, Lots of gorgeous smokey flavor to the dish and also getting the garlic peeled becomes a breeze.
#2
Take off the heads of the prawns once they are cooked, way easier especially if you are prone to getting spiked like I am. The spiky pits are way easier to handle when after cooking.
Here is what you'll need for this meal.
For the Prawns:
2-3 garlic bulbs (YES 2-3!)
Cayenne pepper (totally optional)
about 600g prawns / shrimp with skin and heads on.
Butter
EVOO
2 whole lemons
For the salad: (good for 2-4 people)
1 whole cucumber
1 med- large carrot
1 apple
2 table spoons of lemon juice
Starch of your liking, I had some sweet potato
Here goes:
Make sure the prawns are completely defrosted if they were frozen, then rinse them well with cold running water. remove all the water and put the prawns in a bowl and squeeze in the juice of one whole lemon and toss the prawns about and let them rest in the lemon juice before cooking. This is mostly to help with cleaning the little guys.
While the the prawns are taking a nice lemon bath, prepare the garlic, remember it's with peels and all. slice each bulb in half and put on a flat baking tray. Put a tiny knob of butter on the exposed part of the garlic (optional) and pop in the oven for 10-15minute. Once the garlic is a nice rich brown remove from the oven and let it cool.
There is action in the kitchen at this point, bring out your grater and prepare for the salad prep. In a bowl grate in the peeled carrot, apple, and cucumber. I remove the seedy center of the cucumber so that I don't have a whole bunch of liquid to work through, next pour in the lemon juice and turn the salad about. Sore the salad in an air tight container while you prepare the rest of the meal.
Back to the prawns. Heat some evoo in a pan and add a generous knob of butter. Grab tongs and start putting the prawns in the hot oil and sizzling butter. Shake off the excess lemon juice as you go. Cook the prawns on each side for about 2 min or until they are beautifully orange all round. Don't over cook them. Quickly remove the garlic form the peel and add to the pan with the prawns as they cook. Toss the lot and make sure everything cooks evenly. Squeeze in the lemon juice and a dash of cayenne pepper.
That's it. Dinner done, next you plate.
Hope you all enjoyed this meal with me. Don't forget to comment, up vote, and Resteem.
Love you all, appreciate your support and can't wait to cook with you again.