Crispy Chinese Salt & Pepper Prawns

These Crispy Chinese Salt and Pepper Prawns are a meal that is brimming with a lovely blend of savoury, spicy, and fragrant overtones. Discover the tempting flavours that are contained inside this dish. These prawns, which have been gently fried and seasoned to perfection, are an alternative that is both fast and tasty for any dinner. This is a meal that stands out from the others because of the crunch of the prawns, which, when combined with the aromatic garlic, chilli, and Sichuan peppercorns, will leave you wanting more. When served with steamed rice or noodles, they may be served either as an appetiser or as the main meal.

Ingredients:

For the Prawns:

• • 500 g prawns – peeled, deveined, and butterflied

• • 6 to 8 garlic cloves – coarsely diced
  • 1 fresh chili – cut into chunks

• • 3 to 4 dried chili – cut into chunks
  • 2 stalks spring onion – sliced

• 1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns
• 1 tablespoon sea salt
• 6 tablespoons corn starch or potato starch
• Cooking oil for frying

For the Marinade:

• • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • A few dashes of white pepper

• ½ teaspoon chili powder (optional, adjust to taste)
• 1 teaspoon Chinese cooking wine

METHOD:

1. Prawns should be marinated:
   Add the egg, soy sauce, sugar, white pepper, chilli powder (if using), and Chinese cooking wine to a large mixing bowl. Mix until everything is evenly distributed.
2. Combine by whisking until well combined.
   After adding the prawns to the marinade, check to see that each shrimp is covered in the marinade equally. It is recommended that you let them at least fifteen minutes to soak in the marinade so that they can thoroughly absorb the flavours.
3. While the prawns are marinating, heat a small skillet over medium heat and dry roast the Sichuan peppercorns until they become fragrant, which should take approximately two to three minutes. This will prepare the prawns specifically for frying. Peppercorns that have been roasted should be ground into a coarse powder using a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder after they have been removed from the flame. Put away for later.
4. Make sure that the corn starch or potato starch is distributed equally in a separate dish. To ensure that each prawn that has been marinated has a light and uniform coating, dredge it in the starch.
5. The first step in frying the prawns is to heat sufficient cooking oil in a deep pan or wok over medium-high heat until it is hot but not smoking.
6. The prawns should be fried in batches, and the pan should not be overcrowded with them. It should take around two to three minutes on each side for the prawns to get golden and crispy.
7. Begin by heating a little quantity of oil in a clean wok or big frying pan over medium heat. This will allow you to sauté the aromatic ingredients.
8. Make sure to include the chopped garlic, fresh chilli, dried chilli, and spring onion that has been sliced. For one to two minutes, stir-fry the ingredients until the garlic becomes golden and the chillies release their aroma.
9. Put together the dish by:
   Put the prawns that have been cooked back into the pan when the aromatics have been sautéed. The prawns should be seasoned with ground Sichuan peppercorns and sea salt before being served.
   The prawns should be well covered with the aromatic combination and spice, therefore it is important to toss everything together as rapidly as possible. Mix all of the flavours together by continuing to stir-fry for one more minute.

Provide:
If you so wish, you may garnish the prawns with more spring onions or chillies before transferring them to a serving tray. For a full meal, serve the dish hot, accompanied with steaming rice or noodles.
In conclusion, these Crispy Chinese Salt and Pepper Prawns are an immediate sensation because they deliver an explosion of flavours and textures that are sure to take your breath away. The soft and crispy prawns are the ideal accompaniment to the mix of hot chillies, aromatic garlic, and the distinctive zing of Sichuan peppercorns. There is little doubt that this recipe will not disappoint, regardless of whether you are making a quick weeknight supper or trying to wow visitors. With this simple but delicious dish, you may experience the genuine flavour of Chinese food without leaving the convenience of your own home.