Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Fried Prawns with Garlic and Fresh Basil

The Chinese love to have prawns on the dinner menu during Chinese New Year. Prawns are called "har" in Cantonese and it sounds like laughter, as in hahaha, which,  of course sounds merry and happy, a good start to a new year. Whatever it symbolizes, prawns are delicious and quite expensive during the festive occasion, especially so when a prawn dish is on the menu from the Chinese restaurants. I have stocked up on some prawns before the festive season starts, and now that I'm back home after the holidays, it's time to bring some "har" to my dinner table at home. Since prawns are a favourite in my house, you can be assured of lots of "hahaha and smiles" when these are served.


This is a very simple and easy fried prawn dish. Last weekend, I've visited my sister and harvested from her garden a big bunch of lovely Thai basil leaves from her very lush basil plant. Thank you sis, the basil leaves are extremely fragrant!


My family enjoyed this dish a lot! We love the wonderful smell and taste of the crispy minced garlic and the fragrance from the basil leaves. Prawns have their own unique flavourful taste, and would be extremely delicious with the right amount of seasoning, so adjust the seasoning to your taste. Best eaten with your fingers! It is fingers licking good!

I am submitting this post to Chinese New Year Delights 2013 hosted by Sonia aka Nasi Lemak Lover


And also sharing this with :


Fried Prawns with Garlic and Fresh Basil
600gm medim-sized fresh prawns (remove legs, feelers and de-vein, leaving head and shell intact)
a big bunch of fresh Thai basil leaves
8 large garlic cloves, chopped finely
salt to taste
1/2 tsp sugar
generous sprinkling of white pepper powder
cooking oil for frying

  1. Marinate prawns with 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp sugar and a generous sprinkling of white pepper powder. Keep aside, covered for 15 minutes. Drain.
  2. Heat about 1/2 cup oil and fry prawns in one single layer, 2 minutes per side until cooked. Remove and drain. You may need to do this in a few batches. 
  3. Remove oil from wok, retain about 2 tablespoons of oil in wok. Saute the chopped garlic until light brown, crispy and fragrant. Add in all the pre-fried prawns and a pinch of salt to taste. (You may add in more white pepper powder and sugar to taste if desired). Stir fry until prawns are coated with the fragrant chopped garlic about 1 minute. Add in the basil leaves, stir to combine for a minute more or until leaves are wilted and fragrant. 
  4. Dish out to a serving plate. Enjoy!

36 comments:

  1. Stunning dish! I love prawns, but I'm odd - I like smaller one and I eat them without removing their shell :D

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  2. Hello Joyce! Your prawns are huge! It is a must-to-serve dish on my parents-in-law's table during big festival It must be good in sucking the the juice out of the prawn shells and heads!

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  3. Looks so tasty! Usually we also stock up prawns a few weeks before CNY too so we can have lots of hahahaha during CNY ;)

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  4. Hi Joyce
    These prawns sure to be delicious and tasty by just looking at it. See.....I just have another one round looking at the prawns and it make me mouthwatering already.

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  5. I can smell the basil from across the screen. This dish looks mouth-watering!

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  6. Yum, I love prawns. New follower from Ms. enPlace. I am having a link party at http://www.memoriesbythemile.com/ It starts Tuesday morning, I would love for you to come.
    xoxo
    Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile

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  7. Great looking dish. Shall try cook with basil one day.

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  8. Hi Joyce! Like the laughter dish... Har Har Har! (or Hay Hay Hay if you are Hokkien!)

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  9. Wow!! I am so sure this is perfect...I have mad love for the shrimps :)

    http://anshu-mymomsrecipes.blogspot.in/

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  10. Ha! Ha! we both have prawns on our blogs, :D Great looking dish and i know they smell delicious with that amount of basil! yummy!

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  11. I love prawns and basil, loo delicious!!

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  12. Hi Joy, This dish looks so delicious! I'm a real fan of prawns and garlic! YUM!

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  13. the prawns are so big and they look so delicious with this garlic sauce and basil! YUM!

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  14. Joyce , would you mind throwing some basil over here ? lol This dish looks very appetizing ! Those prawn are huge :D

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  15. Thank you for linking this week. All of this garlic with the prawns would definitely make me merry and smiling. Delicious!

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  16. YUM!! Have you tried with ginger stripes (instead of white pepper powder)? Nice also ;-)

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  17. How lucky that you managed to get yourself a bunch of basil! I wish I can plant this in my house next time, so I can whip this up whenever I want to. This dish looks really easy and delicious!

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  18. This garlic prawn looks awesome. I could have all to myself.

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  19. Joyce, this must be so yummy with basil. For a non-prawn lover, I am very interested in this dish. Basil sure is a wonderful herb.

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  20. WOW, my Hubby and son will love this as they are seafood lovers. Thanks for sharing dear! ;)

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  21. Hi Joyce, I can practically get the lovely scent of the basil. And your this dish looks sinfully delicious!
    I always admire, appreciate women who can cook well.
    And there's nothing more appealing or spectacular than a beautiful wife and mother cooking for her loved ones.
    Have fun, Joyce....stay beautiful and keep a song in your heart.
    Lee.

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  22. Ho Madonna !! .... I'm unfortunately allergic with shrimps, but I would love so much this simple and delicious recipe, I'm sure ! So sad ...

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    We would love that you participate with some recipe like this.Look Amazing!

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  24. What a wonderful shrimp dish. Your photo has made it even more appealing. I'm going to give this recipe a try. I hope all is well. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  25. This prawn dish looks delicious and so simple, I love the combination of garlic and fresh basil...so fragrant and tasty.
    Enjoy the rest of your week Joyce :)

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  26. i love the aroma of thai basil! i know this is really good! wishing you lots of "hahaha" thruout the year!!

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  27. Hi Joyce,
    My family love 'har..har..har'
    I never try cooking 'har' with basil, only with chicken'三杯鸡'
    Your Har dish looks really inviting. I am interested in this. I have some peeled prawn in my freezer, do you think cooking with them will be as delicious ?
    Thank you ^^ have a lovely week ahead.
    mui

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  28. Hi Joyce,

    Your fried prawns looks very delicious but they are actually "lethal" to me (because I am allergy to shellfish). At least, I can enjoy this by feasting the juicy flavoursome prawns by my eyes.

    Zoe

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  29. wah i visit again at the right time!!! mmm.....lovely basil eh! ;). good idea to stir fry with prawns, i didn't think of it. i got prawns in my freezer...and of coz, lots of basil leaves too!! woohoo!

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  30. Wow! These prawns are huge & very appetizing ! YUMMY! ;)

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  31. Simple yet delicious. These photographs look just scrumptious, my friend. Thank you for sharing....and for injecting a dose of goodness into my day. I hope you have a great end to your week!

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  32. Incredible and terrific dish,cant resist.

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  33. If you serve me this, I will definitely go 'ha..ha..ha' with happiness!

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