Spicy Mayo Fried Prawns on Rice

Put the rice into a small saucepan. Add cold water and wash the rice, then drain and repeat twice more, or until the water runs clear.

Add the cold water to the drained rice and let it sit for 15 mins. Put the lid on, set the pan over a very high heat and bring to the boil. Once boiling, lower the heat to its lowest setting and cook for 11 mins. Turn off the heat and let sit for 10 mins with the lid on.

For the spicy mayo, zest the lemon into a large mixing bowl, then add the mayonnaise, sriracha, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp lime juice (save the rest of the lime for the salad) and ½ tbsp light soy sauce. Stir well to combine, then set aside.

Put 6 tbsp light soy sauce, the mirin and 1 tbsp brown sugar into a small saucepan. Heat on high and cook for around 2 mins until the sauce has reduced by one-third. Pour into a bowl and set aside.

For the salad, put 1 tbsp neutral oil, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp brown sugar, the juice of half a lime and the sesame seeds into a bowl. Stir thoroughly to combine until the sugar has dissolved. Slice the coriander into 2cm pieces, slice the red onion as thin as possible and tear the basil leaves. Add to the salad dressing, but don’t mix. Set aside.

Grab a bowl and add the prawns. Grate in the ginger, then add ½ tbsp light soy sauce, a pinch of salt and a few cracks of black pepper. Mix to combine. Add the cornstarch and toss to coat. The batter should be on the drier side. If it isn’t, add more cornstarch.

Add the vegetable oil to a medium frying pan. It should be around 1-2cm deep – add more oil if not. Heat on high for 4 mins, or until the oil is shimmering (trick: grab a chopstick and put it into the oil – if bubbles come out of the tip, the oil is ready). Add the prawns, one by one, and cook for 1-2 mins each side, or until golden. Transfer the prawns straight into the spicy mayo mix, making sure to drain any excess oil first. Toss to coat.

To serve, spoon the rice into a deep bowl and top with the mayo-coated prawns. Drizzle with the sweet soy sauce and finish with a generous handful of the dressed salad.