Chilli Prawn Delight

Well in this morning chilly weather it is inevitable that I cook up a dish that is easy and delightful. Prawns came to my mind and I quickly bought some fresh prawns from the fish market nearby. Kolkata gives me all the motivation to eat like a glutton that I truly am and devouring a lot of fish is quite the religion I follow when in town.

Ingredients required are:

• Prawns - 500 grams

• 3 medium sized onions - cut into big chunks

• 1 Capsicum - cut into squares

• 5/6 chillies - slit lengthwise from the middle

• White Vinegar - 2 teaspoons

• Soya sauce - 4 teaspoons

• Black pepper - 1/2 a teaspoon

• Cornflour - 4 teaspoons

• Ginger - 1 inch piece finely chopped

• Garlic - 10 garlic pods

• Vegetable oil for cooking

• Salt as per taste

Marinate the prawns in some salt and fry them in a wok with enough vegetable oil. Leave them aside. In the same wok pour in some more oil, as required and slowly tip in the chopped garlic and ginger pieces once the oil turns hot. Stir them all very well and once the color slightly changes add in the diced capsicum pieces and onions too. Fry them all in high heat and let them all get browned evenly. When the oil starts to leave the sides add the fried prawns that have been kept aside. To this, you can put in the pepper powder, soya sauce and vinegar one by one. In a small bowl add in some water and mix the cornflour powder. Check for any lumps that form and once it's evenly mixed gradually pour it in to thicken the gravy. Toss it for a few times while the flame is high and give them all a good stir as the sauces come together evenly with the prawns frying away in this brownish thick base. Once it starts to further thicken add in some boiled water which acts as an actual base lending it a soupy consistency. Sprinkle salt over the top and boil for another few minutes and turn off the gas.

This is a very simple delicacy that I like to try when mood is to indulge in something flavorful, fishy yet easy to prepare. This goes down very well with fried rice or noodles and an Indo- Chinese fish recipe is ready in a matter of twenty odd minutes.