VIETNAMESE CARAMEL SHRIMP (TOM RIM)

VIETNAMESE CARAMEL SHRIMP (TOM RIM)
Recipe by: Houston Wok
INGREDIENTS:

1 lb fresh water prawn or shrimp (shell-on and head-on)
1 shallot (finely chopped)
1 bunches of scallion
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Add all of the above ingredients in a mixing bowl and allow to marinate.

CARAMEL SAUCE

INGREDIENTS:

2 soup spoons of cooking oil, we use canola
2 tablespoons of sugar

METHOD:

In a wok or small pan, add 2 soup spoons of cooking oil and allow the oil to get hot. Add the sugar and with a spatula stir the sugar in oil so that the caramel sauce is not congested into a clump. Once the sugar and oil take on a caramel color, set aside.

In a wok or skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil and add the prawn and saute them for 2 minutes. Add the caramel sauce and with your spatula saute everything together until the prawn turns pink all around and the juices have seem to have been sucked up by the shrimp. Serve immediately.

Catherine Thai of Cat Restaurant in Little Saigon also provided me with her award-winning caramel shrimp recipe. Here you go.

CARAMELIZED SPOTTED PRAWNS IN CLAY POT

INGREDIENTS:

6 to 8 large spotted prawns, peeled, deveined, head in tact.  Use the shells to make some shrimp stock (optional)
1 tablespoon oil (I use canola)
1 clove of garlic, chopped
1 medium shallot, chopped
1 to 2 tablespoon fish sauce (depending on the brand of fish sauce and your taste)
1 teaspoon caramel sauce
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon sugar
Black pepper, to taste
2 scallions, chopped

CARAMEL SAUCE:

2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons water

METHOD:

To make the caramel sauce, put sugar in a small pan, spread to an even layer.  Cook at medium heat (without stirring) until the sugar starts melting.  Now, you can start stirring the sugar and keep cooking until this turns into a dark amber color.  Turn off heat.  Note that the sugar will continue to turn a darker color.  Wait for about 30 seconds to one minute before adding the 2 tablespoons of water.  Be careful as this will splatter.  Turn the heat back on and cook at low heat until the caramel dissolves.

Put the shells in a small pan and add a few tablespoons of water.  Boil for a few minutes at high heat then discard the shells.   Continue boiling to reduce the stock to about one tablespoon.

Heat oil in a wok at high heat.  Add shallot and garlic; sauté until fragrant.  Add the shrimp and brown quickly.  Add the stock, fish sauce, caramel sauce, salt, and sugar.  Cook until the shrimp is done and the sauce thickens, about 4 to 5 minutes.    Add the scallions, stir, and turn off heat.  Sprinkle on some black pepper and serve with steamed rice.