Choon Prawn Mee (Ipoh)

 

Serving: 7-8 pax

Ingredients: 1kg flower prawn ~ shelled & aside
500g rice noodles
500g yellow noodles
200g bean sprout
200g spinach
3 fish cakes ~ sliced
6 hard-boiled egg ~ halves
Fried shallots

Chili Paste
250g chili boh
200ml cooking oil
10g belacan
3 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt

Broth

Blended prawn shelled 4-liter water 100g rock sugar 2 tsp salt (adjust to your own preference) 1/4 tsp MSG (optional)

Directions/Instructions:

1. Add half a portion of the cooking oil and belacan to prepare the chili paste. Stir-fry the belacan with slow heat until it is completely dissolved.
2. Then add the chili boh and the remaining portion of cooking oil, and continue to stir-fry for around 20-30 mins until the oil turns dark red/maroon.
3. Turn off the heat, let the chili paste rest for a minute, scoop the chili oil into a container, and set it aside. Then, add the sugar and salt to the chili paste and stir evenly until they dissolve completely. Store the cooked chili paste in a container and set it aside.
4. Next, prepare the prawn broth. Clean the flower prawns thoroughly. In the same wok, add 2 tbsp chili oil and stir-fry the prawn till the prawn is cooked. Set them aside.
5. Add 2-3 tbsp chili oil in the same wok and stir-fry the prawn shell on medium heat until it turns pink.
6. Let the cooked prawn shells cool off the heat. Then, using a blender, mash them with 1/2 cup of water.
7. Add mashed prawn shells into a pot filled with water. Use a ladle to mix the mashed prawn shells and water evenly. Filter out the mashed prawn shells.
8. Add the rock sugar, salt, and MSG to the pot, mix, and cook over low heat until the rock sugar has dissolved completely.
9. Add 2-3 tbsp chili paste and 3-4 tbsp chili oil. Mix evenly until the broth is boiling. Turn off the gas and set the broth aside.
10. To assemble, blanch the noodles, bean sprouts, and spinach and set them in a bowl. Top with a boiled egg, cooked prawns, and sliced fishcakes. Ladle the prawn broth over the noodles and sprinkle with fried shallots. Enjoy!

Tips:
1. The balance of chili paste or oil can also be used to cook other dishes like fried noodles or rice.
2. The ingredients can be adjusted according to your own preference.