Archive for » February 23rd, 2008«

Moroccan Prawns with Couscous

This is sounds like such a big recipe but if you just follow the steps it is not as daunting as it sounds and the end result is gorgeous. I made this as I have been trying to recreate a recipe I have had at a local restaurant. I know this is not exactly how they would make it but it tasted wonderful and both myself and my hubby absolutely loved this.

I am also thinking about starting back catering again, I have catered before for small dinner parties and for large parties of about 50 people, although never anything huge like a few hundred, but am always up for new challenges. I am based in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland and would like to cater from Lausanne to the Geneva area, if you are reading this site and are from around this area I would love to know what you think, so all comments welcome.

Ingredients

Sauce

1 Cup water
2 Teaspoons fish stock granules (a good flavoursome one.)
1/2 Teaspoon garlic powder
1 Teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 Teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 Teaspoon ground ginger
1 Teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
4 Tablespoons hot mango chutney (as I add it I like to remove any big mango chunks.)
2 Tablespoons sweet mango chutney

Prawns

3 Tablespoons olive oil
10 Large green prawns
3 Cloves garlic, crushed
1 Teaspoon paprika
1 Teaspoon cumin
1/2 Teaspoon ginger
Pinch cayenne
1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped

Vegetables

2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Small red capsicum, finely chopped
1 Small yellow capsicum, finely chopped
1 Medium carrot, finely chopped (diced)
1 Small zucchini, finely chopped
100g Red currants

Couscous

1 Litre water
2 Teaspoons vegetable stock granules
1x125g Sachet quick cooking couscous

Method

Sauce

1. Combine all sauce ingredients, heat over medium heat and stir until well combined, leave over a low heat while making the rest, stir occasionally.

Vegetables

1. Add the oil to a pan, cook vegetables, stirring, until just tender, keep warm.

Couscous

1. Add water to a large pan with stock and bring to the boil, add sachet and cook for about 3-4 minutes, or according to packet instructions.

2. Remove and pour into a large bowl, fluff with fork, combine vegetables. Gently stir in red currants reserving a few to sprinkle over the top.

Prawns

1. Heat oil in a pan over a medium heat, add garlic, cook stirring until aroma rises, add the rest of the spices, stir for a minute, add prawns and toss to coat in spice.

2. Cook until prawns are opaque, add parsley coat and cook for another minute or until prawns are cooked through.

To Serve: Place couscous in a mound on a plate, arrange prawns over couscous and spoon sauce around the outside of the couscous.

All photos taken by me unless otherwise stated.

Red Curry Oysters
I made this the other night, it is another recipe from a zaar member and I loved it, it such a different way of preparing oysters apart from the more traditional kilpatrick, mornay and rockafeller. They are spicy, so if your not a spicy lover these are not for you, I love spicy food and these were a great combination and you still got the flavour of the oyster coming through.
I am going to be posting a few zaar members recipes as I have made so many lately, but I also need to catch up on mine, I think, I have about 3 or 4 recipes still waiting to be posted.
I am also thinking about starting back catering again, I have catered before for small dinner parties and for large parties of about 50 people, although never anything huge like a few hundred, but am always up for new challenges. I am based in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland and would like to cater from Lausanne to the Geneva area, if you are reading this site and are from around this area I would love to know what you think, so all comments welcome.


Ingredients

12 Oysters , fresh with shell
4 Tablespoons red curry paste
1 Lemon , juiced
4 Tablespoons coriander or cilantro , chopped

Method

1. Place the oysters on a dinner plate which could be used in a microwave. Make sure the top bit of the oysters is facing towards the end of the place to catch any of the juices.

2. Distribute red curry paste in each oysters, you can add less or more paste it depends on you.

3. Squeeze lemon juice in each oyster. Once again depending on your taste bugs.

4. Place it in the microwave for 1 minute on high.

5. Garnish oysters with Coriander/Cilantro.

If you want to see other photos or read more recipes by this chef please click here.

All photos taken by me unless otherwise stated.