Chinese Poached Spot Prawns 白灼蝦 is one of the simplest and tastiest ways to enjoy the sweet, buttery and delicate flavours of BC Spot Prawns. It takes 5 minutes for Chinese restaurant quality easy recipes at home! Serve and enjoy with plain rice and shrimp dipping sauce!
Jump to:
- What Are Spot Prawns?
- Where Can You Buy Spot Prawns
- Health Benefits of Spot Prawns.
- Tiger Prawns vs Spot Prawn Substitutes
- Mud Line On The Back Of The Shrimp
- How To Store Spot Prawns Before Cooking
- Chinese Boiled Spot Prawn Recipe Ingredients
- Optional for frying the prawn heads
- How To Cook Spot Prawns?
- How To Peel and Unsheathe Tasty Prawns
- What To Do With Leftover Spot Prawn Heads
- What To Serve With Spot Prawns
- Chinese Poached Spot Prawns 白灼蝦
What Are Spot Prawns?
Wild B.C. spot prawns are known for their vibrant reddish-orange color with white stripes on the legs and distinctive white spots on the tail. Spot prawn season only come for a limited short season. The harvest season only lasts six to eight weeks in the month of May. Spot prawns are trap caught off the Pacific Coast of North America from San Diego to the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. They are sometimes referred to as Alaska spot prawns or "The Lobster of Alaska." They have the highest quality prawn meat.
Where Can You Buy Spot Prawns
You can buy and pre-order these succulent prawns at your local grocery stores, Asian markets, or local spot prawns vendors. Frozen spot prawns are also available year round in Canada.
Health Benefits of Spot Prawns.
Spot Prawns are high in amino acids, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, iodine and astaxanthin antioxidants.
Tiger Prawns vs Spot Prawn Substitutes
If you can not get fresh spot prawns, you can also substitute them with other varieties of shrimp, like tiger shrimp with shells.
When it is not live spot prawns season, we usually use large jumbo range size shrimps of 16 to 20 shrimp per pound (U-16/20).
Tiger shrimps are significantly larger compared to spot prawns. These large shrimp has a meaty and firm texture, whereas spot prawns are delicate and with a melt-in-your-mouth buttery bouncy texture. Fresh shrimp are great for grilling during barbecue season.
Mud Line On The Back Of The Shrimp
The black line on the back of the shrimp is the intestinal tract of the prawn. It is more pleasant to eat if it is removed. Use a small paring knife and cut along the outer, thickest part of the shrimp of the back of the raw shrimp. Remove the vein.
How To Store Spot Prawns Before Cooking
The best way to preserve fresh live shrimp before cooking is to remove the head.
After removal of the heads helps maintain the freshness of the shrimp. Keep them in a container and cover them with a bag of ice.
Learn more about spot prawns HERE.
Chinese Boiled Spot Prawn Recipe Ingredients
To make this classic Cantonese seafood recipe, all you need is a few fresh ingredients for your shoppingl ist.
- British Columbia Spot Prawns
- Water
- Sea Salt
Optional for frying the prawn heads
- corn starch
- vegetable oil
How To Cook Spot Prawns?
The simple secret to enjoying whole spot prawns is poaching them in a large pot of water boiling with sea salt.
The most important thing is to keep it a short process.
Spot shrimp cook fast! It is a fine line between cooking live prawns and cooking them 'just right"!
I like them best poached for 30 seconds. Quickly blanched whole prawns in boiling hot water and served with a chilli soy dipping sauce (Recipe Here).
You can prepare the Asian Seafood Dipping Sauce while the water is boiling. In a small bowl, mix together two tablespoons light soy sauce or steamed fish soy sauce, minced clove of garlic, shallot, finely chopped green onion, cilantro, Thai red chili pepper and a little sugar. Set aside.
Do not cook them for more than one minute. Keep your eyes on these sweet shrimp! Once they turn pink, they are ready!
How To Peel and Unsheathe Tasty Prawns
If you have never unsheathe prawns, the first time can be a little scary. There are different ways to shell spot prawns. Just follow the following simple technique!
Note: the cooked prawns are probably a little hot. Allow it it rest and cool before working with them.
- Pull off the head and legs.
- Remove the shell starting with the head end, pull off the other shell with your hands. You can keep the last segment of the shell on the tail tip.
- Remove and discard the vein.
Place the unsheathe shells in a plastic bag or container to freeze and to make shell fish stock.
What To Do With Leftover Spot Prawn Heads
Do not discard prawn shells or their heads. Spot prawn heads are excellent when deep-fried with a little bit of corn starch dusted. Enjoy it with a gentle squeeze of lemon juice.
Unsheathe shells are excellent for making Shellfish Stock.
What To Serve With Spot Prawns
Chinese Chili Soy Dipping Sauce 辣椒豉油熟油
Fried Garlic Seafood Fried Rice 金蒜海鮮炒飯
5 Minute Air Fryer Bean Curd Sheets with Baby Bok Choy Stir Fry 氣炸鍋腐皮蒜蓉炒白菜
Did you make this Simple and Delicious Chinese Boiled Shrimp Recipe? I'd love to see how you went with my recipes! Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @INSTANOMSS #INSTANOMSS
PrintChinese Poached Spot Prawns 白灼蝦
Chinese Poached Spot Prawns 白灼蝦 is one of the simplest and tastiest ways to enjoy the sweet, buttery and delicate flavours of BC Spot Prawns. It takes 5 minutes for Chinese restaurant quality easy recipes at home! Serve and enjoy with plain rice and shrimp dipping sauce!
- Prep Time: 4
- Cook Time: 1
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2-4 persons 1x
- Category: Main Dishes
- Method: Boil
- Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients
- 2 lbs of Spot Prawns
- 6 cups water
- 2 tbsp Sea Salt
Instructions
- Boil six cups of water and sea salt in a large pot at medium-high heat.
- Once the water is boiling, quickly poach fresh live shrimp for approximately 30 seconds. It is essential to keep it a short process. Once they turn pink, they are ready!
- Transfer the poached sweet spot prawns to a serving plate with a ladle.
- Spread prawns in a single layer on the serving plate.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Serve with 辣椒豉油熟油 Chinese Chili Soy Dipping Sauce
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 193
- Sugar:
- Sodium: 269.7 mg
- Fat: 1.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 0 g
- Fiber:
- Protein: 45.6 g
- Cholesterol: 364.9 mg
Keywords: Spot Prawns, dipping sauce, soy sauce, chili, Chinese, seafood, steamed fish soy sauce, Chinese, boiled prawns, bc spot prawns, recipe
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Chloe says
I think I've been boiling my prawns for too long - I'll try your 30 second method next time!
★★★★★
Tatiana says
Great prawns recipe!
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Jessica K says
My fiancé will love if I prepare these. They are delicious with a little butter and garlic.
Linda says
What a delicious treat for the whole family!
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Addie says
Such a flavorful recipe!
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Terri says
I wish I could get delicious fresh seafood where I live, but alas I'm landlocked. I hope it's Spot Prawn season the next time I visit the west coast!
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Abhi says
Such an interesting way to cook spot prawns. Thanks for sharing!!
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Jane says
I like how quick and easy this is to make. Glad learning Chinese recipes.
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Andy says
simple and delicious!
★★★★★
Amanda says
I loved this recipe so easy and tasty. Thank you for sharing!
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Amy says
My favourite way to eat prawns and with a whole bunch of dipping sauces.
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Devan says
I LOVE BC spot prawns. I love how you kept the recipe simple too. Thanks for sharing this!
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Alexandra says
I love spot prawns, and this post is so useful! Thank you!
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Freya says
I have never heard of spot prawns but I’m always fascinated by your recipes and stories!
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Donny says
I wasn't sure but I made them with the chili soy dipping sauce and they're so good! So easy to make, too.
★★★★★
Andrea says
I've never cooked prawns like this before. Thanks!
★★★★★
Stacey says
So excited to try this recipe. I have only had these at restaurants and never tried making them at home. thanks for the simple instructions.
★★★★★
Elaine says
If we haven't caught them ourselves, I buy them fresh from the boats at the dock in the bay here. Needless to say, I LOVE spot prawns. They're incomparable! I serve them in a variety of ways, but when I saw your recipe for Chili Soy Dipping Sauce, I knew I had to try it. Fantastic!
★★★★★
ChihYu says
Delicious, easy and beautiful! Thank you for the tips on what to do with the leftovers!
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Vanessa says
I love spot prawns and this simple method for cooking them. It really lets them shine!
★★★★★
Lesley says
These look delicious, I could eat the entire bowl on my own, such a simple recipe too.
★★★★★
Asha says
Such an informative article on the preparation of spot prawns. Thanks for the useful tips 🙂
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Janice says
I am huge fan of prawns and I love how simple this recipe is, showcasing the prawns first and foremost.
★★★★★
Colleen says
We're spending the weekend on the Sunshine Coast and our friend is sending us home with spot prawns, so this post was just in time! We usually grill them, but now I want to try poaching them. Thanks for sharing!
★★★★★
Nancy says
wow enjoy Sunshine Coast! You will have so much fun and enjoy all the seafood!
Bernice says
Three cheers for spot prawn season! This is the year I order a FEAST from the west coast. I'm going to make them just like you do as I've heard poaching is the best way to enjoy their delicate flavour.
★★★★★
Addie says
So easy and delicious!
★★★★★
Gina Abernathy says
We have a seafood market close by our home. I will have to look for some prawns next time I shop at the market. I do buy shrimp at least once every other month. This recipe looks so good.
★★★★★
Lisa says
We are headed up salmon fishing next weekend and hoping to trap some spot prawns as well. This is the perfect recipe to prepare them! Great information, thank you.
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Nancy says
enjoy your fishing trip!! I can't wait to see your catch!
Janessa says
I have never tried cooking spot prawns before, but I think I will give it a try now! Thank you for this thorough post and all of the tips!
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Nancy says
Enjoy!! spot prawns are amazing!
Emily says
I've never made these before, but your instructions were very clear and helpful. Thanks for sharing!
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Nancy says
Thanks Emily! Can't wait to see your creations!
Agnieszka says
Easy to follow recipe! Thank you, very helpful.
★★★★★
Nancy says
glad it helped!
Natalie says
I followed your advice and recipe and I can't thank you enough. It was delicious, thanks!
★★★★★
Nancy says
Spot prawn season is not to be missed!
Tatiana says
Love learning new recipes with my favorite seafood
★★★★★
Nancy says
OH that would be nice!
Nora says
What a great and super easy variation to prepare prawns! Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
Nancy says
It's a Chinese classic that is super easy!
Andrea says
it's great how simple this recipe is!
★★★★★
Nancy says
It does the cooking for you!
Jere Cassidy says
I never see spot prawns but buy the tiger prawns alot. Honestly, as simple as it is to cook these mine usually come out chewy. You are right they do cook fast and I have always gone overboard on boiling them.
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Nancy says
Tiger prawns works just as well!! I love them too when it is not spot prawn season!
Rebecca says
I love the simplicity of this recipe
★★★★★
Jan says
Never tried poached prawn before, so tender!
★★★★★
Nancy says
tender and still full of bite and bounce!