Large succulent and juicy prawns are topped with aromatic garlic and steamed on top of a bed of mung bean vermicelli noodles drenched in umami dressing.
If you enjoy seafood, especially prawns/shrimp, you want to keep this recipe. It is simple to make and has a nice robust flavor. It has a great presentation as well. My mom used to prepare this for occasions like Chinese New Year, but of course, this can easily make into a weeknight or weekend meal as well.
What is Chinese-style steamed garlic prawns with vermicelli noodles?
Large prawns with heads, shells, and tails still intact are usually used for this dish. The prawns are butterflied, filled with aromatic garlic sauce and then arranged on a bed of mungbean thread noodles/vermicelli noodles and then steamed. Imagine all the amazing flavor from the prawns go into the noodles!!! So good!!!
What type of prawns or shrimp to use?
You can use tiger prawns or any jumbo shrimp with shells still intact. Preferably still have heads and tails to make nice presentation. The shells are what keep the prawns/shrimp from curling up when being cooked.
How to cook Chinese steamed garlic prawns with vermicelli noodles
- Soak the mungbean thread noodles (also known as vermicelli noodles) in warm water for 10 minutes until softened. Then discard the soaking water
2. Use kitchen shear to trim off the antennae and the legs. Leave the head, the shell, and the tail intact.
3. Then use the kitchen shear to cut through the shell and the flesh at the spine of the prawn and remove the black vein
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4. Combine all ingredients for the seasoning in a bowl. Preheat about 1 Tbsp of oil in a skillet. Stir fry garlic and ginger over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Take care not to burn the garlic by controlling the heat.
5. Then pour in the seasoning and let it simmer over medium-low heat for about 1 minute. Turn off the heat
6. Bring the water in a steamer to a boil. Arrange the pre-soaked noodles on a serving plate. Arrange the butterflied prawns on the bed of noodles. Scoop the garlic sauce mixture on the shrimp and drizzle the rest of the seasoning over the prawns and noodles
7. Carefully place the plate in the steamer and steam over medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until the shrimp are cooked through
8. Sprinkle some green onion and cilantro leaves on top of the prawns.
8. Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil over high heat. When you see smoke start rising, turn off the heat and very carefully drizzle this hot oil over the green onion and cilantro. This will give an extra nice flavor to the overall dish
10. Serve immediately when it’s warm as part of a multicourse meal
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Chinese Steamed Garlic Prawns with Vermicelli Noodles
Ingredients
- 500 gr prawns with heads and shells intact
- 100 gr mungbean thread noodles
- 1 Tbsp oil
- 1 bulb garlic shelled and finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp grated ginger
- 2 Tbsp Hot oil
Seasoning:
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine
- ½ tsp sugar
- ¼ tsp ground white pepper powder
- ¼ tsp salt
For garnish:
- 1 stalk green onion
- Fresh cilantro leaves
Instructions
- Soak the mungbean thread noodles (also known as vermicelli noodles) in warm water for 10 minutes until softened. Then discard soaking water
Butterfly the shrimp:
- Use kitchen shear to trim off the antennae and the legs. Leave the head, the shell, and the tail intact. Then use the kitchen shear to cut through the shell and the flesh at the spine of the prawn and remove the black vein
Prepare the seasoning:
- Combine all ingredients for the seasoning in a bowl. Preheat about 1 Tbsp of oil in a skillet. Stir fry garlic and ginger over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Take care not to burn the garlic by controlling the heat. Then pour in the seasoning and let it simmer over medium-low heat for about 1 minute. Turn off the heat
Assembling:
- Bring the water in a steamer to a boil
- Arrange the pre-soaked noodles on a serving plate. Arrange the butterflied prawns on the bed of noodles. Scoop the garlic sauce mixture on the shrimp and drizzle the rest of the seasoning over the prawns and noodles
Steaming:
- Carefully place the plate in the steamer and steam over medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until the shrimp are cooked through
Final touch (optional):
- Sprinkle some green onion and cilantro leaves on top of the prawns. Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil over high heat. When you see smoke start rising, turn off the heat and very carefully drizzle this hot oil over the green onion and cilantro. This will give an extra nice flavor to the overall dish
- Serve immediately when it's warm as part of a multicourse meal
