Asian Recipes - Grilled Prawn Soup Recipe

Ingredients

• 5 cups/1250 ml boiling water

• 1 cup/250 ml grilled prawns, halved lengthwise

• springs of fresh coriander and Thai basil for garnish

Spice paste:

• 2 tsp/10 ml peppercorns

• 3 to 4 coriander roots

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 tsp/10 ml salt

Seasoning:

• 7 shallot onions

• 5 cloves of garlic

• 3 large dried red chilies

• 3 thick slices of fresh galanga

• 2 - 6 inch/15 cm long pieces lemon grass, bruised

• 3 to 4 tbsp/45 to 60 ml fish sauce

• 3 to 4 tbsp/45 to 60 ml fresh lime juice

• 1 to 2 tbsp/15 to 30 ml tamarind water

Serves 4

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Method:

1. Preheat a grill or small barbecue while you prepare the spice paste.

2. Using a mortar and pestle, or a small blender or food processor, pound or grind the spice paste ingredients in the order given until they form a coarse paste. Prepare all remaining ingredients and have at hand.

3. Thread the shallot onions and garlic onto wooden skewers so that no wood is visible. Grill the shallots and garlic slowly until browned allover. Remove the garlic and shallots from the skewers and cut the shallots in half.

4. Grill the dried chilies until they soften and change color. Do not allow them to burn. Split them open and remove the seeds and ribs.

5. Add the spice paste, shallots, garlic, chilies, galanga and lemon grass to the water. Simmer for 5 minutes.

6. Add the fish sauce, lime juice, tamarind water and grilled prawns. Taste and adjust seasoning by adding sugar, salt, fresh lime juice or fish sauce as desired.

7. Garnish and serve.