Unlike other types of animal protein, cleaning and processing shrimp does require perseverance and special tricks. Because the process is more complicated, some people prefer not to clean the shrimp before cooking it (especially if the shrimp used are small). Some people also prefer to keep the shell and head of the shrimp to enrich the taste of the dish. If you're not familiar with cleaning and processing prawns, read on to find out how to prepare and process prawns into a variety of delicious dishes!
Step
Method 1 of 4: Cleaning and Preparing the Shrimp
Step 1. Peel the skin and head of the shrimp to make the shrimp easier to eat
Some people prefer to cook shrimp with the skin on, because the shrimp shell can keep the shrimp meat moist when cooked (the shrimp shell is just peeled before serving). However, if you want to use shrimp as a filling for soup, you should peel the skin of the shrimp before cooking so as not to interfere with your dining pleasure. Want to know the right way to clean shrimp? Read on for this section!
- If you want to pan fry or fry prawns, don't peel the skin.
- Don't throw away the prawn heads if you want a stronger flavor of the dish. But of course you can throw it away to make the shrimp easier to eat.
Step 2. Twist and pull the shrimp head, it should come off easily
Press the area around the eye of the shrimp with your index and thumb, then twist and pull the head of the shrimp. Shrimp heads can be removed or stored and reprocessed into broth.
Step 3. Clean the shrimp legs
Pinch the shrimp legs and pull gently, they should come off easily.
Step 4. Peel the prawns with your hands
Gently pinch the shell of the shrimp, then pull it through the tail and release it completely. You can keep the shrimp tail (usually as a handle when eating shrimp), throw it away, or save it and reprocess it into various other dishes.
Step 5. Make a small incision in the back of the shrimp with a knife
After peeling the skin and/or tail and head of the shrimp, remove the entrails located on the back of the shrimp. The entrails of the shrimp look like a black string or thread that runs along the back of the shrimp; some shrimp have it, some don't.
Step 6. Pull out or scoop out the inside of the shrimp using a toothpick
Compared to a knife, using a toothpick will be much easier because the inside of the shrimp is very small and thin. This step is not mandatory for you to do (especially if the shrimp used are small). But sometimes, the entrails of shrimp can give a bitter taste sensation that spoils your dining pleasure.
You can also remove the entrails of the shrimp without removing the skin first. To do this, cut the back of the shrimp, cut the back flesh, and then remove the insides. The entrails of the shrimp can also be cleaned after you remove the head. Usually, the end of the string/black thread will be visible after the shrimp heads are removed. You can pick them up with a toothpick or pull them out with your bare hands
Step 7. Wash and dry the prawns
Excess fluid in the shrimp body will make it difficult for the shrimp to cook evenly and perfectly. After washing them under running water, lightly pat the prawns dry with a paper towel.
If they don't cook right away, place the prawns in a bowl with ice cubes or refrigerate them
Method 2 of 4: Frying Shrimp with the Pan Fry. Technique
Step 1. Melt 2 tbsp
unsalted butter or olive oil in a frying pan/Teflon on medium heat. If you are cooking large portions of shrimp, increase the amount of butter used. In the pan fry technique, olive oil or butter should be sufficient to coat the bottom of the pan, not to submerge the prawns.
Step 2. Add herbs and spices for a better taste and aroma
Seasonings or spices need to be sauteed with oil so that the aroma and taste are absorbed by the shrimp meat. Some suitable herbs or spices are added:
- 6-10 red onions, finely chopped.
- 3-5 cloves of garlic, crushed or chopped.
- 1-2 tbsp. ginger, finely chopped.
Step 3. Add the prawns to the stir fry, cook until one side changes color (make sure the prawns don't pile up or the pan is too full)
This process usually takes 3-4 minutes. After one side is cooked, mix the prawns together with the various spices.
Step 4. Add salt, sugar, pepper or other flavorings
Make sure the entire surface of the shrimp is coated with the seasoning. Leave it until the prawns are cooked. Some additional flavor variations worth trying:
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Mexican style prawns:
Lemon juice, cayenne pepper powder, smoked jalapeno chili powder, chili powder, garlic powder (you can also use chopped fresh herbs).
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Mediterranean-style shrimp:
Lemon juice, black pepper, oregano powder, garlic powder (you can also use chopped fresh herbs). Mediterranean-style shrimp are more delicious cooked in olive oil.
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Cajun Shrimp:
Salt, paprika powder, cayenne pepper powder, thyme powder, chili or black pepper powder, garlic/onion powder (you can also use chopped fresh herbs). Cajun shrimp are tastier cooked in butter.
Step 5. Turn the prawns over and cook until they are fully cooked
Shrimp can lose moisture quickly so they shouldn't be overcooked. Once the color of the shrimp changes, immediately turn off the heat. Perfectly cooked shrimp meat is not white, but slightly pink. If you like, serve the shrimp straight from the pan to keep them warm while eating.
Method 3 of 4: Boiling Shrimp
Step 1. Bring enough water to a boil, at least to cover the prawns
Add slices or small pieces of half a lemon, 1-2 tsp. Old Bay seasoning (instant seafood seasoning, available at large supermarkets or online stores), 1 clove of minced garlic, and 1 tsp. salt. Bring the water to a boil for 1 minute, then add the prawns.
Step 2. Add the prawns along with the tails, reduce the heat
Make sure all the prawns are submerged in the water. Boil the prawns for 3 minutes or until the prawns change color. Turn off the fire.
If you like, you can cook the prawns with the skin and head to make the flavor stronger and retain moisture
Step 3. Place the cooked prawns in a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process
Immediately after boiling, drain the cooking water and put the prawns in a bowl of cold water.
Shrimp boiled water can also be stored and reprocessed into shrimp broth
Step 4. Serve the prawns cold
Delicious boiled shrimp served with a variety of sauces such as cocktail sauce, tartar sauce or melted butter. Arrange the boiled shrimp on a flat plate, arrange delicious sauces on the side, and serve at the buffet table. Very tasty!
Boiled shrimp is also delicious as a salad filling with mayonnaise sauce. You can serve it on a pile of fresh leaves or make it a bread filling
Method 4 of 4: Grilling Shrimp
Step 1. Heat the grill to high temperature
Shrimp should be cooked quickly to keep the meat chewy, fresh, and sweet when cooked. Cooking shrimp at high temperatures results in shrimp with a crisp, brown skin and moist, chewy flesh.
Generally, prawns are better grilled with the skin and tail on. But of course you can peel off the skin and tail if you like
Step 2. Coat the prawns with baking soda for a crunchier and crunchier texture
If you like the prawns crunchy and crunchy, dip the prawns first in the 1 tsp mixture. salt, 1 tsp. baking soda, and 250 ml. water at least 15 minutes before cooking. Baking soda can change the pH of the shrimp and encourage the caramelization process when the shrimp is cooked.
Before cooking, lightly pat the shrimp with a paper towel to remove excess liquid. But make sure you don't wash the prawns so that the baking soda mixture doesn't disappear
Step 3. Arrange the prawns on the skewers
You can also arrange them alternately with vegetable pieces if you like. Once arranged, make sure you tamp the prawn meat (and vegetables) to keep the shrimp moist while cooking.
Soak the shrimp skewers in a bowl of water first; make sure it is completely submerged. Soaking the shrimp skewers is useful for reducing excess fluid in the shrimp, so the shrimp can cook better when cooked
Step 4. Coat the prawns with olive oil
Use a brush to coat all sides of the shrimp with olive oil; Olive oil works to help the shrimp cook perfectly. Add a pinch of salt and garlic powder if you like.
Step 5. Arrange the shrimp skewers on the grill, making sure you leave enough space between the skewers
Press the prawns until they touch the grill bars.
Step 6. Cook one side of the prawns for 3-4 minutes, turning the prawns over when the prawns change color
Remember, shrimp are very easy to cook. Once they change color, remove the prawns from the grill immediately. If your grill is very hot, the char or grilling effect on the shrimp shells will appear quickly. If black streaks appear, it's a sign that the shrimp can be turned over soon. Once flipped, simply cook the other side for 1-2 minutes.
Step 7. Season the prawns just after the prawns are done grilling
Remove the shrimp from the grill (don't remove the tail and shell), then coat the shrimp with olive oil or melted butter, salt and pepper. Add as many other spices as you want to make the shrimp taste even more delicious:
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Mexican prawns:
Lemon juice, cayenne pepper powder, smoked jalapeno chili powder, chili powder, garlic powder.
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Mediterranean-style shrimp:
Lemon juice, black pepper, oregano powder, garlic powder, parsley.
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Cajun Shrimp:
Salt, paprika powder, cayenne chili powder, thyme powder / chopped fresh thyme, chili powder or black pepper, garlic powder/onion.
