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Asam prawn made with tamarind.
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4.70 from 10 votes

Asam Prawn (Tamarind Prawn)

Try this easy and authentic Malaysian-Nyonya Asam Prawn (Tamarind Prawn) recipe. Succulent prawns in a tangy tamarind sauce make for a delicious and simple dish that captures the essence of Nyonya cooking. Best of all, it requires just 6 ingredients and takes only 15 minutes from prep to dinner table!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Prawn
Cuisine: Malaysian Recipes
Keyword: Asam Prawn, Assam Prawn, Tamarind Prawn
Servings: 4 people
Author: Bee Yinn Low

Ingredients

  • 10 oz (280g) shell-on big prawns
  • 2 tablespoons tamarind pulps
  • 1/4 cup water 4 tablespoons
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons cooking oil
  • 1/2 tablespoon sugar

Instructions

  • Rinse the prawns with water and pat them dry with paper towels. Trim the antennae and devein each prawn by making a shallow slit along the top.
  • Mix the tamarind pulp with 4 tablespoons of water. Extract the juice by pressing the pulp. Set it aside.
  • Add the tamarind juice, tamarind pulp, and salt to the prawns and mix well. Marinate for 10 minutes.
  • Heat a wok and add the cooking oil. Once the oil is hot, pan-fry the prawns until they are cooked through and slightly charred. Add the sugar and stir to combine well with the prawns. Serve immediately with steamed rice.

Video

Notes

  • Some recipes call for dark soy sauce, but I prefer to skip it to avoid making the prawns too dark in color and less appealing in presentation.
  • You can remove the tamarind pulp before pan-frying the asam prawn, but I like to leave it in as it enhances the flavor. The tamarind pulp is edible and adds a delightful tang to the dish.

Nutrition

Serving: 4people | Calories: 166kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 89mg | Sodium: 549mg | Potassium: 130mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 130IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 0.4mg