Prawns

[jennyjoan]

some years back I had tempura prawns in Drumoland Castle and they were breathtaking that my friends and I only had about 5 of them on the plate. The waiter dropped one of the prawns and went back to the kitchen and carried out the one prawn that he dropped - I think they were reared at the Castle.

anyway last night when I watched old footage of Masterchef - I saw that Greg and John suggested boiling the prawns - I know it isn't tempura but I have never been successful in cooking prawns so how long would I boil them if I bought them again.

sorry for being so long-winded LOL

[EdmundD]

I saute them in white wine

[jennyjoan]

right Edmund - would that be in their shells

[ummmm]

Until they turn pink.

[AuntPollyGrey]

If you want to eat the prawns in their shells make sure you buy raw praws -they will be a bluey white colour. Drop them into boiling water and boil until they turn pink - it does not take very long, maybe 2 minutes. Leave them to cool then shell them.

If I were using them to make tempura prawns ( really easy) I would shell them raw, coat them in flour then the batter and deep fry them -again about 2 minutes.

[alavahalf]

Jenny I would very much doubt that your prawns would have come from the lily pond at Drumoland. More likely to have been farmed in the Shannon.

[pastafreak]

I've never boiled prawns. I usually saute in butter, garlic, chilli.
I've discovered that Iceland...yes, Iceland...do amazing raw, shell on red shrimp that are really, really good. And I'm fussy and don't usually like frozen fish or seafood.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Jenny , if you have been buying pink prawns then they are already cooked and they just need defrosting if frozen and heated up quickly if you want them hot, or used in salads.

[EdmundD]

No not in the shell.

[gulliver1]

APG ,you seem to know a lot about Prawns . Are you a" Prawn again Christian."

[jennyjoan]

alavahaf - it's that many years ago couldn't deffo remember where they were farmed - they were gorgeous anyway. thanks everyone for your answers, yes I do know when they are pink they just need to be defrosted but even then I find they taste like rubber bands.

[ummmm]

Then they are overcooked and you'd be best off buying them raw.

[barry1010]

Where are you buying them from, JJ? Cheap frozen prawns tend to be nasty.

[jennyjoan]

have tried everywhere like over the years, M&S, Sainsburys - those times I got away with it because I made them into Prong Cocktail with the sauces etc. That's what my neighbour calls them

[Vagus]

I buy two sorts of prawns.
One sort is from the chilled section and ready cooked, I use them in things like prawn cocktail, mixed in with a sauce. I would never use them in a dish which needs cooking.
The other sort are giant raw ones, not in the shell, and frozen. I buy them from Costco and use them, defrosted, in any dish I’m cooking which calls for prawns. Once they’re defrosted they only take a few minutes if frying them, or at the most ten or twelve minutes in the oven stirred into the recipe I’m making. I would NEVER boil them.

[jennyjoan]

Vagus - I didn't think boiling them as suggested by John and Gregg was good advice.

[ummmm]

JJ....boiling is fine if you have quality raw prawns to start with.

[diddlydo]

Pastafreak is right - Iceland's raw, shell-on prawns are great! 2 minutes sauté in hot frying pan and they're done.

[pastafreak]

I had them last night...lots of garlic, chilli, lemon juice and butter. Messy and amazingly good.
I think you can lightly boil or simmer prawns for a prawn cocktail. I've seen both that, and cooking them unshelled in butter.