Spicy and Refreshing Shrimp Stew
Quick & Easy Shrimp Stew with a Spicy Kick!
Transform 10 frozen king prawns hiding in your freezer into a delicious, revitalizing shrimp stew! This dish boasts a wonderfully spicy and clean broth that is simply irresistible. Packed with fresh vegetables and succulent shrimp, it’s a delightful meal that’s perfect for using up leftover ingredients.
Main Ingredients- 10 frozen king prawns
- 2 small heads of baby bok choy (or young napa cabbage)
- 1/2 block of firm tofu
- 1/4 Korean zucchini (aebang squash)
- 1 hot pepper (e.g., Cheongyang chili)
- 1/2 handful of dried shiitake mushrooms
- A small bunch of crown daisies (ssukgat)
Seasoning Ingredients- 1 Tbsp fish sauce (e.g., anchovy or sand lance)
- 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp ginger syrup (or 1/4 tsp minced fresh ginger)
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (maesilcheong)
- 1/2 cup (approx. 100ml) water
- 1 Tbsp fish sauce (e.g., anchovy or sand lance)
- 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp ginger syrup (or 1/4 tsp minced fresh ginger)
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (maesilcheong)
- 1/2 cup (approx. 100ml) water
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Start by thawing the frozen king prawns. Place them in cold water and let them defrost naturally. Once thawed, peel off the shells and devein them. You can save the heads and tails for garnish later if you wish.
Step 2
Separate the baby bok choy leaves and wash them thoroughly under running water. Gently shake off excess water and chop them into bite-sized pieces, about 3-4 cm in length.
Step 3
Line the bottom of your pot with the prepared baby bok choy. This layer will add a lovely sweetness and help create a clean broth as it cooks.
Step 4
Arrange the tofu, cut into generous cubes, over the bok choy. Then, artfully place the sliced Korean zucchini in a circular pattern around the pot. Arranging the ingredients attractively makes the dish even more appealing.
Step 5
Nestle the dried shiitake mushrooms among the vegetables and tofu. The shiitake mushrooms will lend a wonderful depth of flavor to the broth.
Step 6
Finally, place the prepared king prawns on top of the other ingredients. Layering the ingredients like this allows them to meld flavors beautifully as they cook, resulting in a richer taste.
Step 7
Evenly sprinkle the pre-mixed seasoning ingredients (fish sauce, soy sauce, gochugaru, minced garlic, ginger syrup, plum extract) over the ingredients in the pot. Pour in 1/2 cup of water (approx. 100ml) and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium.
Step 8
When the shrimp turn a vibrant pink color, ladle some broth over the ingredients and continue to simmer for another 1-2 minutes. Finely chop the hot pepper and add it now to give the stew a pleasant spiciness. Be careful not to overcook, as this can make the broth cloudy.
Step 9
Finish by adding the fresh crown daisies on top and turning off the heat. The fragrant aroma of the crown daisies will elevate the flavor of the shrimp stew. Serve immediately and enjoy this delicious, warming dish!
