Salt and Pepper Spicy Prawns

Salt and Pepper Spicy Prawns

　　Salt and Pepper Spicy Prawns is a specialty dish of Beihai. The mantis shrimp, also known as "crawling shrimp." It has such an odd name because when it leaves the water, a stream of liquid often drips from its body, resembling a baby urinating—hence its rather unrefined nickname. This type of shrimp hides in the muddy seabed during the day and only comes out at night to forage on the beach. On the muddy flats where it crawls, it leaves behind marks resembling rake patterns from its tail fan, which is why it is also called "shrimp rake." The best time to eat mantis shrimp is from October to April of the following year. During this period, the shrimp are not only plump but also have particularly fresh and tender meat. There are generally two common ways to prepare them: one is to steam or boil them, then peel and eat the meat with sauces or condiments like vinegar; the other is to marinate them first in a mixture of ginger, wine, salt, and then deep-fry them in oil. Once cooked, you get a dish with succulent meat and crispy skin—Salt and Pepper Spicy Prawns. You can eat it either peeled or with the shell on, as culinary wisdom suggests that the shells of prawns prepared this way are also an exceptionally delicious treat.

　　Ingredients: 1000g mantis shrimp, 3 red chili peppers, garlic, ginger, scallions, wine, salt, soy sauce, salt and pepper powder.

　　Steps:

　　1. Trim off the sharp tips of the shrimp heads and legs, remove any impurities, wash clean, and soak in a marinade made of ginger, scallions, wine, salt, and water for 5 minutes. Remove and drain the excess water.

　　2. Finely chop the red chili peppers and garlic.

　　3. Heat a wok over high heat, add palm oil until it reaches about 80% heat, then add the shrimp and fry until they turn golden brown. Scoop them out with a strainer to drain the oil. Be careful with the heat—don’t overcook them.

　　4. Leave some oil in the wok, heat it up, then add the chopped chili peppers and garlic, stir-fry until fragrant, and add the salt and pepper powder.

　　5. Add the fried shrimp, stir well to mix evenly, pour in an appropriate amount of soy sauce, stir again, then plate. The result is a dish with succulent meat and crispy skin—"Salt and Pepper Spicy Prawns," also known as "Salt and Pepper Mantis Shrimp."