Prawns With Cardamom And Fennel Recipes

PRAWN & FENNEL COCKTAIL

Steps:

• To make the rouille, use a pestle and mortar to mash chilli and garlic to a smooth paste. Bring the saffron to a simmer with 4 tbsp of water. Stir saffron water, garlic and chilli into the mayonnaise and put in the fridge, until ready to use.
• Cut the fennel into quarters, remove the cores and use a Japanese mandolin or sharp knife to slice as thinly as possible. Bring a pan of water to the boil and blanch the fennel for 1 min until just wilted. Drain and tip into iced water. Drain again and use a cloth to wring out all the excess water, then leave in the fridge.
• To assemble the dish, season the fennel with the sugar, salt, a decent grinding of pepper and the lemon juice. Cut most of the prawn tails in half, saving a whole one for each serving. Mix the chopped prawns into the fennel, then add the chopped chervil and tarragon and enough rouille to bind everything together (about 6-7 tbsp). Half-fill 6-8 martini glasses loosely with the fennel mix. Place the mixed leaves on top, then a whole prawn tail, then drizzle with the fennel juices that will have collected at the bottom of the bowl. Serve straight away with a wedge of lemon.

QUICK PRAWN, FENNEL & TOMATO RAGOUT

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the onion and fennel and cook for 5 mins, stirring every so often. Add the tomatoes and seasoning, then bring to the boil. Cover and cook on a low heat for 10 mins until the fennel is tender, then stir in the prawns and warm through. Serve scattered with olives and the reserved fennel tops, roughly chopped.

FENNEL & GARLIC SHRIMP

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan over medium heat. Add the fennel and saute for 5 minutes, until tender but not browned. Turn the heat to medium-low, add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook at a very low sizzle for 2 to 3 minutes, until the garlic just begins to color.
• Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels, add them to the pan, and toss together with the fennel and olive oil. Spread the shrimp in one layer and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes on one side. Turn the shrimp and cook for 2 minutes on the other side, until they¿re pink and just cooked through.
• Off the heat, sprinkle with the parsley, 1 tablespoon of chopped fennel fronds, the Pernod (if using), the fleur de sel, and black pepper and serve it with bread to soak up all the pan juices.

FENNEL SPICED PRAWNS WITH CITRUS SALAD

Steps:

• Sprinkle the fennel spice evenly over the flesh side of the prawns and let sit, covered and refrigerated, overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet with even curved edge over medium high heat until hot. Lay the prawns, flesh down, against the curved sides of the pan, tails up and heads toward the center of the pan. Press them down with spatula or rest a slightly smaller pan on top of the prawns as a weight, so they cook evenly and rapidly. This will give them a gently curled shape. Cook until they begin to turn pink around the edges, about 2 minutes. Place the pan in the oven until the prawns are evenly pink, about 2 minutes longer.
• Cut the skin and white pith off all the citrus fruits and segment the fruits over a bowl to catch the segments and juices. Season with the salt and pepper and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Toss well, taste for balance and reserve.
• To serve, place 1/4 of the watercress on 4 plates. Toss the citrus mixture again and spoon around and over the watercresss, moistening with juices. Arrange 3 prawns around each salad, standing them in a circle, tails up, and serve hot, warm or at room temperature.
• Fennel Spice Rub:
• 1 cup fennel seeds
• 3 tablespoons coriander seeds
• 2 tablespoons white peppercorns
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt
• Put the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a heavy pan over medium heat. Watch carefully, tossing frequently so the seeds toast evenly. When light brown and fragrant, pour the seeds onto a plate to cool. They must be cool before grinding, or they will gum up the blades.
• Pour the seeds into a blender and add the salt. Blend to a fine powder, shaking the blender occasionally to redistribute the seeds. Store in a tightly sealed glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.
• Yield: about 1 1/4 cups
• Prep Time: 10 minutes

PRAWNS WITH CARDAMOM AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Heat oil in skillet over med high heat. Add garlic and cook for 10 seconds. Add cumin, cardamom and fennel and cook 5 seconds.
• Add the prawns, salt and pepper and cook until prawns begin to turn pink. then add coconut. Turn heat to medium and saute until cooked through, about 3 minutes.
• Add the lemon juice then turn off the heat.

PRAWN, FENNEL & ROCKET RISOTTO

Steps:

• Put the stock in a large saucepan, bring to the boil, then lower to a simmer. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion, garlic and fennel, and cook on a low heat for 10 mins until the vegetables have softened but not coloured. Add the rice and stir for 2 mins until the grains are hot and making crackling sounds. Increase the heat to medium and start adding the stock, a ladleful at a time, stirring constantly and making sure the stock has absorbed into the rice before adding the next ladleful.
• When the rice is almost cooked, add the prawns, lemon zest and some seasoning. Continue adding stock and cooking for another 3-4 mins until the prawns are pink and the rice is cooked. Remove from the heat and stir through the rocket and lemon juice. Check the seasoning, leave the risotto to sit in the pan for 2 mins, then serve.

PRAWN & FENNEL BISQUE

Steps:

• Shell the prawns, then fry the shells in the oil in a large pan for about 5 mins. Add the onion, fennel and carrots and cook for about 10 mins until the veg start to soften. Pour in the wine and brandy, bubble hard for about 1 min to drive off the alcohol, then add the tomatoes, stock and paprika. Cover and simmer for 30 mins. Meanwhile, chop the prawns.
• Blitz the soup as finely as you can with a stick blender or food processor, then press through a sieve into a bowl. Spend a bit of time really working the mixture through the sieve as this will give the soup its velvety texture.
• Tip back into a clean pan, add the prawns and cook for 10 mins, then blitz again until smooth. You can make and chill this a day ahead or freeze it for 1 month. Thaw ovenight in the fridge. To serve, gently reheat in a pan with the cream. If garnishing, cook the 8 prawns in a little butter. Spoon into small bowls and top with the prawns and snipped fennel fronds.