seafood – Page 2 – My Whisk and I

Mediterranean Prawns

January 19, 2022January 19, 2022by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

This recipe is proof once more of how the simplest ingredients often produces the best taste. Serve the prawns on fragrant rice or with your favourite pasta.

50g butter
15ml olive oil
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2kg prawns, peeled and de-veined
2 cans chopped tomato
30ml sugar
15ml salt
a handful of fresh thyme
two handfuls of fresh basil, roughly chopped

Put a large saucepan on to a high heat and add the butter and olive oil.
Add the garlic once the butter has melted and stir around for a minute.
Add the prawns and cook for 2-3 minutes until pink and done.
Remove the prawns from the saucepan and keep on the side.
Add the canned tomato, sugar, salt and thyme to the same saucepan, turn the heat down to medium and cook for 15 minutes.
Pour the sauce into a liquidiser and blitz until smooth. (You can use a stick blender as well)
Pour the sauce back into the saucepan and add the cooked prawns.
Simmer on a low heat for 10 minutes.
Turn off the heat and add the chopped basil.
Serve the prawns with fragrant rice.

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Greek Calamari Pita

December 15, 2021by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

These calamari filled pita breads are the perfect casual weekend food for entertaining friends and family!! Serve them with a crisp, cold chardonnay and kick back Greek style!!

Lemon-Yoghurt Sauce:
125ml yoghurt
1 clove garlic, minced
5ml dijon mustard
45ml lemon juice
a handful of basil leaves, torn

1 kg calamari rings, washed and dried
45ml sunflower oil
1 lemon
salt and pepper

about 2 cos lettuce, shredded

Pita Bread – If you want to bake your own fresh pita bread you can go to the SEARCH goggle on this block to find the recipe

For the Sauce:
Add all the ingredients to a small bowl and mix well.
Cover with plastic wrap and set aside to infuse at room temperature.

Place a heavy-bottom pan over high heat and wait 2-3 minutes for the pan to get hot.
Turn the heat down slightly, more high than medium-high, add the oil to the pan and then the calamari rings.
Stir the calamari around for 2 minutes, NO MORE!, and immediately remove the pan from the heat.
Squeeze the lemon onto the calamari while it is still sizzling and season generously with salt and pepper.

Hold the pita bread upright (on the seam) and make an incision about a third of its circumference.
Lightly push two fingers in and wiggle them around to separate and open the inside of the bread, so that you have a large pocket.
Scoop a spoonful of the lemon sauce into the cavity and smear it around with the back of the spoon.
Place a thin layer of the shredded lettuce on the bottom of the pocket, then a layer of calamari and then a layer of the sauce.
Push all of this down with the back of the spoon so that you will have enough space for a repeat of layers.

Serve the calamari pitas with the leftover sauce on the side.

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Prawn Cocktail

October 22, 2021October 17, 2021by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

This is a classic prawn cocktail recipe and although it has been around for always it is ever popular, quick and easy to put together.

60ml butter
3 cloves of garlic, minced
400g shrimps/prawns, shells removed and cleaned
half a red onion, finely chopped
60ml mayonnaise
15ml tomato sauce/ketchup
15ml lemon juice
5ml Worcestershire sauce
iceberg lettuce
extra lemon wedges to serve

Melt the butter in a large heavy base frying pan and add the garlic and prawns. The prawn should be spaced slightly apart and not be crowded into the pan – cook more than one batch if your pan does not allow enough room for this.
Cook the prawns for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pink.
Remove from the pan and allow to cool.
Chop the red onion very finely and add it to a mixing bowl with the mayo, tomato sauce, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. Mix through.
Chop the prawns into chunks and add it to the sauce mixture.
Shred about 2 cups of lettuce and add that to the rest of the ingredients. Mix thoroughly.
Scoop the mixture into serving bowls/glasses/cone-shaped tuilles and serve with a wedge of lemon.

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Bacon and Cheese Crayfish Tails

August 17, 2021August 17, 2021by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

This dish can be prepared in advance and grilled once your guests are seated. Delicious served with a grain salad or a crusty bread.

5-6 crayfish tails per person (it is the main dish after all!)
150g bacon, diced
30ml butter
1 onion, finely chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
250ml cream
125ml parmesan cheese, grated
250ml Boerenkaas or mature cheddar, grated

Fully thaw the crayfish tails.
Turn your oven on to the grill setting and spray an ovenproof dish with cooking spray.
Fill a large stock pot/saucepan with salted water and bring to a rapid boil.
Add the crayfish tails, bring the water back up to a boil and cook the tails for 6 minutes.
Fill a large bowl with cold water and ice.
Take the tails from the boiling water and immediately immerse it in the ice water to stop the cooking process.
Lay a tail flat in your hand and cut the top shell with poultry shears down the centre of the back, to the tail.
Remove the vein and any shell shards.
Run your finger between the meat and the shell to loosen it. Lift and pull the meat from the shell and add it to the prepared ovenproof dish. Set aside.
Add the butter and bacon to a frying pan on medium-high heat and fry the bacon until crispy.
Scoop out the bacon bits and keep aside.
Turn the heat to medium and add the onion and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes while stirring.
Add the cream, parmesan cheese and cooked bacon and cook for another minute.
Take the sauce from the heat and evenly pour it over the crayfish tails.
Sprinkle the grated Boerenkaas over and place under the grill until the cheese has melted and is slightly charred.
Serve with fresh lemon wedges and a good glass of wine.

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Creamy Prawn Spaghetti

August 3, 2021August 3, 2021by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

The sauce for this prawn dish is absolutely delicious! It is creamy and cheesy and brings all the flavours together. No bread is needed to mop up the sauce as the pasta absorbs it all. Give it a try, you will love it! Feeds 4 hungry adults.

250g spaghetti
30ml butter
400g prawns
3 cloves of garlic, minced
65ml dry white wine
250ml cream
125ml chicken stock
50g parmesan cheese, grated
a handful of parsley, chopped

Cook the spaghetti according to the packet instructions.
Place a large saucepan onto medium-high heat and add the butter.
Add the prawns and garlic and stir-fry for 2 minutes.
Now add the white wine and cook until reduced by half.
Add the cream, chicken stock and parmesan and turn the heat down to a slow simmer. Cook until the sauce has thickened.
Add the cooked spaghetti to the mixture and give everything a thorough mix-through.
Finish with a scattering of parsley before serving.