Name: Besan-fried prawns with saffron-braised vegetables
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 Spanish onions, cut into thick wedges; 1½ baby fennel bulbs, cut into thick wedges; ¼ tsp saffron, soaked in 2 tbsp hot water for 30 minutes; 1 tbsp red wine vinegar; 1 tsp honey; 380 gm vine-ripened tomatoes (about 4), quartered; 1 tbsp currants; For deep-frying: vegetable oil; 200 gm besan flour; 1 tbsp each cumin seeds and coriander seeds; 1 kg uncooked prawns, peeled, tails intact, deveined; 1 cup (loosely packed) each coriander and flat-leaf parsley leaves, to serve

Besan-fried prawns with saffron-braised vegetables

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for besan-fried prawns with saffron-braised vegetables.

Serves 4

Prep

20M

Cook

40M

Total

The besan flour (chickpea flour) coating gives these prawns a crisp nuttiness; it’s available from health-food shops and Indian grocers.

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil

2 Spanish onions, cut into thick wedges

1½ baby fennel bulbs, cut into thick wedges

¼ tsp saffron, soaked in 2 tbsp hot water for 30 minutes

1 tbsp red wine vinegar

1 tsp honey

380 gm vine-ripened tomatoes (about 4), quartered

1 tbsp currants

For deep-frying: vegetable oil

200 gm besan flour

1 tbsp each cumin seeds and coriander seeds

1 kg uncooked prawns, peeled, tails intact, deveined

1 cup (loosely packed) each coriander and flat-leaf parsley leaves, to serve

Method

Main

1.Heat olive oil in a deep-sided frying pan over medium heat, add onion and turn occasionally until just beginning to soften (8-10 minutes). Add fennel and turn occasionally until golden brown (7-8 minutes), then add saffron and soaking water, vinegar and honey, gently place in tomatoes and scatter with currants. Cover with lid, reduce heat to low and simmer until fennel is tender (15-20 minutes).

2.Meanwhile, preheat vegetable oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 180C. Combine besan flour and spices in a bowl and season to taste. Dust prawns in flour mixture, shake to remove excess and deep-fry in batches until golden (1-2 minutes; be careful as hot oil will spit). Drain on absorbent paper, season to taste and keep warm.

3.To serve, spoon saffron-braised vegetables into serving bowls, scatter with herbs and top with fried prawns.