How can I get fried prawns to be juicy?
Okay I give up, I've tried and failed about 8 times now frying prawns but they never are succulent. The recipe that I want to get done is pretty simple:
- De-vein. Salt the prawn for some time and allow it to marinate.
- Wash them. Fry them in some oil till they turn pink.
- Add onion, chillies, ginger, garlic. Some turmeric. Some tomatoes.
The cuisine is Goan if it's of any help.
This is exactly what mum does and somehow it turn out great. The only things different that I'm doing are:
- The original recipe uses coconut oil, I'm using sunflower
- I'm using frozen prawns because i cant get hold of fresh prawns.
I don't think any of this should affect the dish. Anyway, what always happens is that the prawns are either too chewy or too dry (opposite of juicy).
What am I doing wrong here? How do I know if the prawns are just cooked right? Should I be using low or high heat?
Any other tips for getting really juicy fried prawns?
Best Answer
You are overcooking them. When the shrimp turn pink at the end of your second step, they are done. When you add your remaining ingredients and continue to cook them, you are overcooking the shrimp.
I'd suggest cooking the shrimp until they are pink, then setting them aside. Cook your remaining ingredients in the pan until done, and then toss with the shrimp and serve.
Regarding the oil, it shouldn't make a difference that you are using sunflower oil. Regarding the frozen prawns, unless your mom was purchasing them direct from an oceanside market, she was likely buying once-frozen prawns too. Most prawns found in supermarkets are flash frozen at the source, and are only thawed and put on ice at the supermarket.
Pictures about "How can I get fried prawns to be juicy?"
How do you make prawns soft and juicy?
Make sure the shrimp are submerged in water. Add 1 heap tablespoon of baking soda into the bowl and lightly massage the shrimp with the baking soda water. Set aside for 30 minutes. Rinse the shrimp thoroughly with cold running water.How do you make shrimp not crunchy?
Fry for 3-4 minutes on each side. When you are flipping the prawns halfway, add the water. Serve.How To Make The BEST Fried Shrimp| Better Than Popeyes| Crispy Fried Shrimp
More answers regarding how can I get fried prawns to be juicy?
Answer 2
I agree with hobodave that you're overcooking the prawns. But, I would cook the veggies first and then let the prawns cook with them for the last 2 minutes of the veggie cooking time.
One other thing I would suggest is to cut out the salting/marinade stage. The salt could be "cooking" the prawns and is most likely sucking some moisture out.
You could also try reducing the amount of oil you're using, 1 tbs in a pan should be sufficient.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: ROMAN ODINTSOV, Jonathan Borba, Valeria Boltneva, Angela Roma