Batter Fried Honey Prawns

Food affects our mood, that we know for sure! But have you ever noticed how does our mood affect the food we cook? Definitely, if you are in a foul mood, you are going to cook something different from when being cheerful. Personally my mood in the morning determines the menu for the day. Happy mood means fresher flavours, if I’m tensed, I try my best to use that passive aggression to spur me on in the kitchen but if I’m really angry, the negativity does reflect in the food. The pasta can go mushy, food gets over or under seasoned, or in the worst scenario even burnt.

Fortunately, I enjoy the act of cooking a lot and strongly believe in ‘cooking with love’. The very act of cooking calms and centres me. This light and happy dish of Batter Fried Honey Prawns resulted from waking up to a pleasant morning after days of scorching heat. I didn’t want to spend the entire lovely day in the kitchen but I did want to cook something different from routine food for my family – something everyone would enjoy for lunch sitting outside under the cloudy sky, in the cool breeze.

I served these Chinese style batter fried Honey Prawns with some saucy and slurpy chicken chow mein and it was a meal that everyone enjoyed. The love added to the food while cooking it, reached the table and spread smiles all around. Yes, I do believe in cooking with love! In the absence of this main ingredient – love, even following a perfect recipe to a T doesn’t work. So dear friends, let’s replace the low, lazy, blue and bitter into bright and beautiful as you create the next meal for your family and friends. Let’s put in some heart as well with all the time and energy you dedicate to cooking.

Oh and about these honey prawns; they are the easiest, simplest of recipes and really you have got to try to believe how yummy they are! Seafood cooked Asian style in a quick sweet and sour sauce never disappoints me.

1/2 kg king prawns
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon soy sauce
A pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 cup corn flour
1 cup plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 egg, beaten
water to dilute the batter
Oil for shallow frying

1 tablespoon olive or sunflower oil
1/2 cup honey
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoon Soy Sauce
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon red chilli flakes
Salt to taste

Shell prawns, pat them dry.

Mix all the marinade ingredients in a bowl. Add prawns, mix well with marinade sauce, cover and refrigerate for 5 minutes.

Mix plain flour, baking powder , salt and pepper in a big bowl. Make a well in the centre.
Gradually add the beaten egg and a little water to make a thin batter.

Remove prawns from the marinade, coat them in corn flour. Shake off excess cornflour.

Heat oil for shallow frying in a deep frying pan on medium heat.

Dip 2-3 prawns at a time in the egg and flour batter. Fry for 2 minutes or till golden.
Drain them in a sieve. Set aside till you prepare the sauce.

Remove the frying oil from the pan. Wipe it clean. Add 1 tablespoon olive/sunflower oil.

Add garlic,honey , soy sauce, lemon juice and red chilli flakes. Stir over gentle heat until mixture is heated through.
Taste for seasoning and balance of flavours. Add a little salt if required.

Add prawns, toss in honey mixture to coat prawns. Remove from pan, sprinkle with sesame seeds, spring onions or fresh coriander. Serve immediately with steamed rice,egg noodles, or salad.

Serves 2