Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Tom Yum-Flavored Steamed Prawns

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I find it an excuse whenever people tell me that it's hard to cook for two. I thought they meant that cooking small portions is hard. Now that my nest is empty, I realise that it isn't the portion but the whole purpose of cooking is not the same when you cook for two or in my case, three.

You know what they say about motherhood, that when you are finally good at it the kids are grown up. It's the same thing about cooking. When I finally hone my cooking skills, my kids have left home.

*sigh*

Here's a simple way to steam some prawns. The idea came from a meal at Hub's cousin in Shanghai during our visit in 2010. For a spicier and speedier dish, I'd use bottled tom yum seasoning although you, the purist cook, can make the tom yum from scratch. Add additional seasoning, such as fish sauce, lemon grass and kaffir lime leaves if you want to. Don't forget to serve with lime wedges.

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Tom Yum-Flavored Steamed Prawns With Mung Bean Noodles
1/2 kg fresh prawns, deveined and unpeeled
a small handful of dried mung bean vermicelli, soaked in water for 15 minutes
1/2 cup fresh mushrooms
2 kaffir lime leaves, torn (optional)
2 stalks lemon grass, smashed (optional)
2 to 3 slices of lengkuas/galangal/laos/lam geong (optional)
1 to 2 red bird's eyes chilies, chopped (optional)
a few sprigs of coriander leaves/cilantro
2 T tom yum seasoning granules
2 T fish sauce
1 T light soy sauce
1/2 can chicken broth + 1 can water

Garnish with:
cilantro
1 lime, in wedges

1. Season the prawns with 1 T tom yum seasoning. Mix the rest of the ingredients in a heat-proof dish.
2. Arrange the prawns over the noodles. The water should just about cover the noodles.
3. Steam 6 to 10 minutes, depending on the size of the prawns.
4. Garnish and serve hot.


13 comments:

hongyi said...

why u so emo these days :(
come stay with me in SH for a while...then we can team up and argue with those feisty Shanghaining ladies together when they pick on us...

Anonymous said...

Hahaha..Hong Yi, I feel your mom, when you are a mom yourself, you will know how we mama feels when our children leaving the nest. Whenever your mom talks about your siblings and you, she almost teared.

Terri, thanks for the recipe, will cook that for 2 oldies too. :-)

MG

Anonymous said...

Terri, u nailed it spot on about the "purpose" of cooking. Your sentiments resonate with mine n many mothers with empty nests.
Thks for recipe. I'm cooking it tmr cos the kids love this dish :)

Now u have plenty of time to read the book i gave you :P
Hugs
MP :)

Margaret said...

I! Terry I know what you mean. Cooking for 2 is so different than family cooking.it's just not as much fun. And, like you, now that I really enjoy/know how there is only 1 do it for. **sigh ** indeed!!

Michelle Chin said...

My mom would say the same too.

By the time she started cooking all sorts of creative stuff, her daughters are 6000 km away from her.

When she comes over and wants to cook for us, we cook for her in return.

the lunch guy said...

yeah, why u so emo? lol

nice looking shrimp!

when i first stopped working in restaurants i felt similar about cooking (not kids). no matter how hard i tried i prepared enough food for an army that never showed up.

so now i just go with the flow, portion and freeze the extras, and cook once or twice a week.

Heather said...

lol at yi's comment, yet i wanna give you a big hug and hope you'll feel better soon. And I think it's a great idea for you to go to SH and stay with her for a bit - the food, shopping and her company will be awesome therapy and perfect blogging material which i'd be lapping up eagerly from here. xoxoxo.

Laura said...

Yum!!! Yum!!!
They look delicious!!!
My mum feelt the same, so I can understand you...but now she's so busy with nephews that everything is ok again!!

A big hug!!
Laura

Fooman said...

I will happily come over and eat if you're empty nesting. Or we could make the cooking video :)

Anonymous said...

Ha, right there with you!
Mel b away in uni this fall, already K’s constantly fretting how different it’ll be; she b a cry pot 4 sure! Alx hasn’t shown much concern, but we knew she b missing her big sis most, ‘cos they’re like ice cream & summer. And I’d really miss their non-stop chatting 2 each other and the silly fun they have @ the piano. As for Mel, the 1st thing she said was, ”I’m gonna the piano bad!”….. sigh….!
PS: Great recipe! Tough 2 find as good looking prawns here though!

Mike C

Terri @ A Daily Obsession said...

yi: but i am committed to smthing in march...

mg::):( but at least you have one child to cook for...enjoy spending time with her...

mp: how are you? whenever i make chrysanthemum tea, i think of you:)

michelle: tt's really nice of you n your sis. *sigh*

lunchguy: yes i'm trying to 'go with the flow'...

heather: she really needs one of us there now but both uncle n i can't go...

laura: i AM looking forward to grandkids!

mike; which uni is mel going to? why not go to u of t n stay home?? oh, the youngest in the family has the hardest time...we are all growing old...

Anonymous said...

Most likely Waterloo; UT does not offer co/op (alternating half school/half work term) :-(

Mike C

Terri @ A Daily Obsession said...

mike: waterloo! tt's a great uni, esp for computer studies. what's mel studying? give her a big hug n congrats frm me:)

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