Golden Prawn Smash Pitas with Sticky Cumin Chilli Sambal, Creamy Fennel Slaw & Avocado
Golden Prawn Smash Pitas with Sticky Cumin Chilli Sambal, Creamy Fennel Slaw & Avocado
Ingredients
For the Sticky Cumin Chilli Sambal
- 1 handful red chillies, roughly chopped
- a few garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 thumb-sized piece ginger, peeled, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 lime lime juice
- a splash fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil, for blending, plus more for frying
For the Creamy Fennel Slaw
- 1/2 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 small bunch fresh coriander, chopped
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1/2 lime lime juice
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
For the Golden Prawn Smash Patties
- 300 g prawns/shrimp, peeled, deveined, roughly chopped
- 2 stalks spring onion/scallion, chopped
- 1/4 bunch fresh coriander, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 inch piece ginger, grated
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch/cornflour
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, for coating
- as needed neutral oil, for shallow frying
For Assembly
- 4 pita bread, for serving
- 1 avocado, sliced
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Sticky Cumin Chilli Sambal: Add the roughly chopped red chillies, peeled garlic cloves, roughly chopped ginger, cumin seeds, a pinch of salt, and 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar to a blender or food processor.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Squeeze in the juice from half a lime and add a splash of fish sauce to the blender. Pour in 1-2 tablespoons of neutral oil (enough to help the ingredients blend smoothly). Blend until a coarse paste is formed.
⏱️ 3 min
- 3
Heat a generous amount of neutral oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the blended sambal paste to the hot oil and fry until it becomes fragrant and slightly darkened, indicating it's cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside.
⏱️ 7 min
- 4
Prepare the Creamy Fennel Slaw: Thinly slice half a fennel bulb and half a red onion. Chop a small bunch of fresh coriander.
⏱️ 7 min
- 5
In a mixing bowl, combine the sliced fennel, red onion, and chopped coriander. Add 2-3 tablespoons of mayonnaise and squeeze in the juice from half a lime. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Mix all ingredients thoroughly until well combined and coated in the dressing. Set aside.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Prepare the Golden Prawn Smash Patties: Roughly chop the peeled and deveined prawns. In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped prawns, chopped spring onion, chopped coriander, minced garlic, and grated ginger.
⏱️ 10 min
- 7
Add 1-2 teaspoons of soy sauce and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil to the prawn mixture. Season with a pinch of salt and a pinch of black pepper. Crack in 1 large egg and add 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly with your hands until a cohesive mixture is formed.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
Take portions of the mixture and form them into flattened patties. Place a generous amount of panko breadcrumbs (approximately 1-2 cups) in a shallow dish. Coat each prawn patty thoroughly in the panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently to ensure they adhere.
⏱️ 10 min
- 9
Heat neutral oil in a pan over medium-high heat, ensuring there's enough oil for shallow frying. Fry the breaded prawn patties for a few minutes on each side until they are golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the pan and place on a wire rack or paper towel to drain excess oil.
⏱️ 15 min
- 10
Assemble the Pitas: Warm the pita bread. Slice the avocado. Fill each pita with a Golden Prawn Smash Patty, a generous spoonful of Creamy Fennel Slaw, a drizzle of Sticky Cumin Chilli Sambal, and a few slices of avocado.
⏱️ 3 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Golden Prawn Smash Pitas with Sticky Cumin Chilli Sambal, Creamy Fennel Slaw & Avocado
For the Sticky Cumin Chilli Sambal
- 1 handful red chillies, roughly chopped
- a few garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 thumb-sized piece ginger, peeled, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 lime lime juice
- a splash fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil, for blending, plus more for frying
For the Creamy Fennel Slaw
- 1/2 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 small bunch fresh coriander, chopped
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1/2 lime lime juice
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
For the Golden Prawn Smash Patties
- 300 g prawns/shrimp, peeled, deveined, roughly chopped
- 2 stalks spring onion/scallion, chopped
- 1/4 bunch fresh coriander, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 inch piece ginger, grated
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch/cornflour
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, for coating
- as needed neutral oil, for shallow frying
For Assembly
- 4 pita bread, for serving
- 1 avocado, sliced
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Sticky Cumin Chilli Sambal: Add the roughly chopped red chillies, peeled garlic cloves, roughly chopped ginger, cumin seeds, a pinch of salt, and 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar to a blender or food processor.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Squeeze in the juice from half a lime and add a splash of fish sauce to the blender. Pour in 1-2 tablespoons of neutral oil (enough to help the ingredients blend smoothly). Blend until a coarse paste is formed.
⏱️ 3 min - 3
Heat a generous amount of neutral oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the blended sambal paste to the hot oil and fry until it becomes fragrant and slightly darkened, indicating it's cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside.
⏱️ 7 min - 4
Prepare the Creamy Fennel Slaw: Thinly slice half a fennel bulb and half a red onion. Chop a small bunch of fresh coriander.
⏱️ 7 min - 5
In a mixing bowl, combine the sliced fennel, red onion, and chopped coriander. Add 2-3 tablespoons of mayonnaise and squeeze in the juice from half a lime. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Mix all ingredients thoroughly until well combined and coated in the dressing. Set aside.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Prepare the Golden Prawn Smash Patties: Roughly chop the peeled and deveined prawns. In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped prawns, chopped spring onion, chopped coriander, minced garlic, and grated ginger.
⏱️ 10 min - 7
Add 1-2 teaspoons of soy sauce and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil to the prawn mixture. Season with a pinch of salt and a pinch of black pepper. Crack in 1 large egg and add 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly with your hands until a cohesive mixture is formed.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
Take portions of the mixture and form them into flattened patties. Place a generous amount of panko breadcrumbs (approximately 1-2 cups) in a shallow dish. Coat each prawn patty thoroughly in the panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently to ensure they adhere.
⏱️ 10 min - 9
Heat neutral oil in a pan over medium-high heat, ensuring there's enough oil for shallow frying. Fry the breaded prawn patties for a few minutes on each side until they are golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the pan and place on a wire rack or paper towel to drain excess oil.
⏱️ 15 min - 10
Assemble the Pitas: Warm the pita bread. Slice the avocado. Fill each pita with a Golden Prawn Smash Patty, a generous spoonful of Creamy Fennel Slaw, a drizzle of Sticky Cumin Chilli Sambal, and a few slices of avocado.
⏱️ 3 min