Steaming Succulent Garlic Prawns: A Quick, Easy Guide

Steamed garlic prawns are a delicious and healthy dish that can be prepared quickly and easily. The key to this recipe is the freshness of the prawns—large, juicy prawns packed with flavour are best. The prawns are then stuffed with a garlic sauce and steamed to perfection, resulting in a dish that is not only tasty but also nutritious and low in calories. This simple yet impressive meal is perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion.

Preparing the prawns

Once cleaned, use a sharp pair of kitchen scissors or a small, sharp knife to carefully cut down the back of each prawn, making a shallow incision into the meat without cutting all the way through. This will allow you to remove the black intestinal tract, also known as the vein, which should be discarded.

At this stage, some recipes suggest using a bamboo skewer inserted lengthways through the body of the prawn to straighten it. This is not essential but can help to ensure the prawns cook evenly.

The next step is to stuff the garlic mixture into the incision made earlier. Take a generous amount of the mixture and spoon it into the cut, ensuring it is well-filled. Repeat this process for all the prawns.

Finally, arrange the prepared prawns on a plate that will fit into your steamer. If using skewers, trim them with scissors if they are too long to fit in the steamer. The prawns are now ready to be steamed.

Making the sauce

The sauce for steamed garlic prawns is what gives the dish its characteristic aroma and flavour. It is important to get this right, as it will be the dominant taste in the dish.

Firstly, prepare your ingredients. You will need garlic, of course, and this should be finely chopped or minced. You can use a food processor to do this, or mince it by hand. You will also need soy sauce, Shaoxing wine (or cooking wine), and some vegetable or sesame oil. Some recipes also call for oyster sauce, ginger, white pepper powder, chicken stock, hua tiao cooking wine, and salt.

Heat your chosen oil in a saucepan over a medium-high heat. Add the garlic and stir, cooking for 1-2 minutes until softened. You can also add some finely sliced spring onion and ginger at this stage for extra flavour. Next, stir in the soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and, if using, the sugar. Cook this mixture for a further minute.

At this point, you can transfer the sauce to a small bowl and stir through some sesame oil. Allow the sauce to cool before using it to prepare your prawns.

Some recipes suggest frying some of the minced garlic separately, to be mixed with the fresh garlic. This adds a different texture to the sauce and an extra depth of flavour. Be careful not to burn the garlic when frying, as this will make the sauce bitter.

Cooking the garlic

To cook the garlic, you'll need to finely chop or mince it. You can use a food processor to speed up this process.

Heat a tablespoon or two of vegetable or another type of oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic to the pan, along with some finely sliced spring onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes or until softened.

Next, add soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and a pinch of sugar to the pan. Cook for another minute, stirring to combine the flavours. Transfer the garlic mixture to a small bowl and stir through a dash of sesame oil. Allow the mixture to cool.

The garlic is now ready to be stuffed into the prawns. Make a slit in the back of each prawn and remove the vein, leaving the shell on. Spoon a generous amount of the garlic mixture into the incision in the prawn.

Steaming the prawns

Firstly, you'll want to prepare your prawns. Wash them thoroughly and leave the shells and heads on. You can remove the heads, but keeping them on will add flavour to the dish. Use scissors to cut down the back of each prawn, making a shallow incision into the meat—be careful not to cut all the way through. Devein the prawns, discarding the black intestinal tract.

Next, you'll want to butterfly the prawns and marinate them. You can do this with salt, white pepper and Shaoxing wine for at least 15 minutes. You can also add other ingredients to the marinade, such as sesame oil, soy sauce, and garlic.

Now it's time to stuff the prawns. Take a bamboo skewer and, starting from the tail end, thread the skewer lengthways through the body of the prawn so that it straightens up. Spoon a generous helping of the garlic mixture into the incision you made earlier. Repeat this process with the remaining prawns.

Once your prawns are stuffed, it's time to steam them. Place the prawns on a plate that fits into your bamboo steamer. If the skewers are too long, trim them with scissors. Put the plate of prawns into the steamer and steam over boiling water. The steaming time will depend on the size of your prawns, but it should take around 4-10 minutes. They're done when they're opaque and have turned pink.

Carefully remove the prawns from the steamer and serve immediately.

Serving suggestions

Steamed garlic prawns are a delicious and healthy dish that can be served as a weeknight meal or for special occasions. Here are some serving suggestions to elevate this simple yet tasty dish:

Noodles:

One way to serve steamed garlic prawns is with noodles. Specifically, mung bean vermicelli noodles or Chinese glass noodles are great choices. Soak the noodles in warm water to soften them, then arrange the cooked prawns on top of the bed of noodles. The noodles will absorb the delicious flavours of the prawns and garlic. This suggestion is perfect if you want to make the dish more filling and satisfying.

Rice:

Steamed garlic prawns can also be served with rice, such as stir-fried rice or steamed rice. The garlic prawns will add a burst of flavour to the rice, making it a tasty and fragrant combination. This option is ideal if you're looking for a more traditional or classic pairing.

Vegetables:

Another option is to serve the prawns with vegetables, either steamed, stir-fried, or roasted. Some suggested vegetables include broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, and mushrooms. This suggestion adds a healthy and colourful touch to your meal.

Salad:

For a lighter or more refreshing option, serve the steamed garlic prawns with a salad. A simple green salad with a vinaigrette dressing or a more substantial salad with grains and roasted vegetables could be a great pairing. This suggestion is perfect for a summer meal or if you're looking for a healthier option.

Dipping Sauces:

Finally, you can elevate your steamed garlic prawns by serving them with dipping sauces. Some sauce options include a spicy garlic sauce, a sweet and sour sauce, or even a simple soy sauce dip. This suggestion adds variety and allows your guests to customise their dish.

Frequently asked questions