The Startup Cook – Prawn Cakes 

The weather in Colombo is horrible. Spending time in the kitchen is like working out in a sauna. Therefore having to make food that requires a lot of preparation time is not for me. Hence when hunger strikes I resort to recipes such as this. 

Prawns are a popular favourite and you do not have to single me out, I love them as well. This particular recipe is a Nigella Lawson one and is as delicious as you expect. It takes a minimal amount of your time (which is a blessing) and is scrumptious, making it to be the ideal evening snack or appetiser. 

However my only rule is that you serve it while it’s warm. Tuck in while it's crispy – your taste buds will thank you. 

Ingredients 

8 prawns
¼ cup of flour
1 spring onion 
½ an onion (small)
1 clove of garlic
½ a lime
Curry powder (Roasted)
Chilli powder (Roasted)
Salt 
Pepper 
Cinnamon 
Coriander powder
Oil 

Instructions 

Clean, devein and wash the prawns. Juice the lime over the prawns, add a teaspoon of curry powder, chilli powder, pepper, half a teaspoon of salt and cinnamon, and leave it to marinate for at least an hour. 

Wash, peel and cut the spring onion and place it in a food processor. Peel the garlic and onion place it in and blitz the contents for few seconds. 

Then add the flour and the marinated prawns in to the processor. 

Add a teaspoon of salt, coriander powder, pepper and ½ tsp of chilli powder and blitz until all the ingredients have formed in to dough. 

Using your hands, scoop out some of the mixture and roll them in to flat circular shapes. 

On a medium high flame, heat up ½ cup of oil in a saucepan. 

Carefully, place each cake on the hot oil and fry on both sides. 

Once the cakes have cooked, take it off the heat. 

Serve while it’s hot. 

Disasters, Warnings and Tips 

Although Nigella does not engage in it, I think that a good marinade is vital for this recipe. 

It's deep frying or the inside doesn’t get cooked. 

Squeeze some lime juice over the cakes before you consume it. 

When Doves Cry was #onrepeat while I was making this. #RIPPRince 

You get about 5 prawn cakes with this recipe. Increase on the ingredients for more prawn cakes. 

I hate this heat. Any kind of movement makes me sweat. 

By Shazzana Hamid