Wednesday 25 June 2014

Grilled Lemongrass Prawns (Tom nuong xa) : AFF Indochina


I am not exactly crazy about prawns like some people are but I do eat the occasional prawn. So when I saw this recipe, I decided to expand on my repertoire as you hardly find any seafood in my post list. You see, I prefer to eat chicken anytime :) So boring hah...hah...


To tell you the truth, I wasn't very confident about the marinade. Imagine that. I should have been more worried about grilling the prawns (first time, you see). The marinade is a mixture of lemongrass, olive oil, honey, fish sauce, curry powder and spring onions. A rather strange mish mash of ingredients or so I thought. I wasn't sure what sort of curry powder to use, so I simply whacked my Alagappa meat curry powder hah..hah...


The marinade smelt funny. Imagine fish sauce and curry powder. Add to that olive oil and honey. And spring onions? But sometimes marinades do smell weird in their raw state but become spectacular once cooked. I should have bought bigger prawns but since I already had a packet of frozen prawns in the fridge, I didn't bother. My prawns are of the small variety and it was a challenge to skewer the prawns with the lemongrass. It was just as well that the lemongrass I bought were skinny. Note to self : cut the lemongrass stem at an angle to make it sharp.

Skinny lemongrass skewers for tiny prawns.

I wasn't even sure how long to grill the prawns and I simply tembak 10 minutes hah...hah...My oven is a microwave with convection function and it has two grill functions. I have since misplaced my oven manual and I can't remember the difference between Grill 1 and Grill 2. So I tembak again. I chose Grill 2. And it worked. Grill 2 for 10 minutes and my prawns were done just right. It must be my lucky day :)

Some of the lemongrass slices were burnt. But I like the burnt taste.

It was time to eat and I was pleasantly surprised that the prawns were very tasty. The marinade was very good and there was quite a bit of heat from the curry powder. Just as well that I missed the chilli paste. This had better be worth it, I told myself when I was struggling to skewer the prawns. At that time, I was pretty sure that I would not repeat this dish. Well, I will happily tell you that I was so wrong! But there will be bigger prawns for the next grill :)









Grilled Lemongrass Prawns
Recipe Source : Quick & Easy Vietnamese Cooking for Everyone (page 17)

Ingredients (makes 4)
- 12 prawns, shelled and deveined

Marinade :
- 2 tbsp chopped lemongrass
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 2 tsp curry powder
- 2 green onion/spring onions, finely chopped
- 1 tsp chili paste (I omitted by accident but the curry powder was already hot enough)

4 stalks lemongrass

Method :
1. Combine all marinade ingredients and marinate prawns for 15 minutes.
2. Cut lemongrass into 10" (25cm) lengths.
3. Skewer the prawns with the lemongrass.
4. Grill or broil prawns.
5. Serve immediately.


I am submitting this post to Asian Food Fest - Indochina hosted by Kelly Siew Cooks.



This post is also linked to Cook-Your-Books #13 hosted by Joyce of Kitchen Flavours.

56 comments:

  1. This looks amazing!! I can't believe I have never cooked prawns!!

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    1. Cathleen, there is always a first time! Go buy some prawns :)

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  2. Morning Phong Hong.. The prawns do look a bit small though, hahahaha.. Bigger prawns more presentable, but well, who cares.. I think it looks sedap, and can easily wallop few sticks on its own..
    You are right - fish sauce and curry powder, ok, then olive oil and honey, errr.... I was like... But well, you are right again, sometimes marinade may smell weird, but once grilled (or roasted), it turns out ok wor.. Just like tomato sauce+oyster sauce.. Ngam mou?

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    1. Morning, Louiz! Ya lah, the prawns are very small. I should have kept them for fried rice hah..hah...But still OK mah, turned out alright but does look as good as the big prawns. Ngam! the tomato+oyster sauce also don't smell good before roasting.

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  3. That looks like prawn satay. Must be very nice, with lemon grass and grilled some more. Yummmm!!!!

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    1. Arthur, next time I'll just use the satay skewers. A lot easier. This does taste very good and might also work for chicken.

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  4. Wow! Prawns are my favorite seafood next to crabs...give me that and I am a happy girl! :D Looks fabulous although I agreed I have not come across marinates like that too..I am not familiar with Indo China food:P

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    1. Jeannie, me too not familiar and have to refer to the cookbook and even then not sure am I doing the right thing hah..hah...

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  5. Phong Hong - for something you stumbled through, it looks damn good man!

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    1. Thanks, Diana! It was beginner's luck!

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  6. yums...can feel the taste of the prawns liao :)

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    1. The prawns so small and I wallop the whole lot in one sitting. And still hungry :(

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  7. wah!!! this is so delicious!! grilled lemongrass prawns, aiyoh, i can already imagine the juiciness and crunchiness of the prawns in my mouth, and also the aroma of lemongrass lingering after makaning all the prawns, haha!! and the presentation looks good also, you have spring onions grilled together with the prawns?? ah, raw ones i don't like but the cooked ones i am okay with it.. and you got basil leaves to decorate, hehehe.. yummy yummy!!! best thing is, can just pop the prawns into the mouth without the need to shell them~~ :D

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    1. SK, pity that these are only small prawns. Not that I am stingy hee..hee..The prawns were seasoned and grilled just right. I was so lucky and had myself a very nice lunch :)

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  8. Phong Hong, you make the prawns look so flavourable... I bet they taste good too!! Yummsss!!

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    1. reana claire, they were grilled just right and were crunchy!

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  9. You know, I love anything with lemongrass... it reminds me of confinement period...Most of the dishes are cooked with lemon grass to take away our so called "wind?" :)

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    1. Oh, I thought that was ginger! Didn't know about the lemongrass bit hee...hee...Anyway any dishes with lemongrass taste good and have beautiful aroma.

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  10. Oh, I love prawns. haha! Both of us can finish this, no problem!

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    1. Hi Jessie! I think not enough for both of us because after eating the whole lot, I was still hungry hee..hee..

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  11. Oooo those sure look yummy.

    I'm taking note of all the recipes. Maybe can try for buka puasa. ^^

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    1. Lina, this is easy peasy and perfect for buka puasa. Can marinade just before breaking fast and then pop it in the grill. Makan!

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  12. the prawns must be very flavourful. I just can't get enough of prawns...love this at all times.

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  13. Your prawn satay is making me drool!

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  14. Your delicious looking prawns made me drool, despite of their size. But who cares about size, right? Just got to have a few more then ;-)

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    1. Veronica, I think I will be more satisfied if the prawns were bigger. I consider this a successful trial run!

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  15. I love prawns and these gnam my taste.

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  16. Your photos are so nice with blurry effects that my mouth wanna open and bite the prawns!!! yummy Yum Yum!

    I could imagine how the lemongrass would spice up the food to mkae them fragrant and tasty. The Vietnamese use lemongrass to eat, drink and even bathe. So refreshing!

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    1. Hi TM! Lemongrass makes the food so aromatic and tasty. But not all the time. I tried a Lemongrass Cheesecake once and it was awful :(

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  17. Hi Phong Hong, ho liao! Must be very aromatic and the prawns crunchy and sweet.

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    1. Kimmy, the prawns were grilled just right and still had the crunch. I was so lucky!

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  18. personally I could eat them every day so this recipe is something for me!:)

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  19. You are really good in cooking!
    I think this dish is good to go with beer, haha xD

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    1. Thank you, Hayley! My cooking is just OK lah...

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  20. Hi Phong Hong,
    We love prawns! Usually there would not be any leftovers! And your grilled prawns, will be gone in no time! Funny how some ingredients that sounds odd together makes the most delicious combination! Your grilled prawns looks really delicious!

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    1. Hi Joyce! If you get your hands on fresh big prawns, I highly recommend this recipe!

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  21. Alamak! I'm so late ... no more prawns liao. Have to wait for your bigger prawns the next round ... and I'll bring along some skewers ^-^!

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    1. Hi Karen! You will have to help me skewer and grill the prawns hah...hah....

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  22. Wow, these 'satay' prawns look so appetising.....ho liao!

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    1. Hi Cheah! heh..heh...small prawns only...so kiam siap one :)

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  23. PH, I like your satay prawns, looks like asking me to eat them hahahah

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    1. Jess, you wanna eat you better grill some yourself :D

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  24. Anything to do with prawns, i loves...

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  25. ooohhh...I love anything cooked with lemongrass, and prawns? wow... that's a great dish!! Well done!

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  26. infact i think smaller prawns look better on the skewer but yes , the challenging part is insert them into the lemongrass...lemongrass also sounds to me not easy to poke in the prawns...hehe..

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    1. Lena, I had to keep peeling off the lemongrass layers to make it small enough for the prawns hah,..hah...

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  27. The combination of lemongrass and prawns is already a winner!

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  28. Phong Hong,
    I can smell the aroma of lemon grass from my iPad.. lol
    This is indeed a delish dish!
    mui

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    1. hah..hah...mui mui, I wish that I can smell food from my computer too :D

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