You Men Da Xia (Braised Prawns)
Shrimp miso overflowing from the shell is the ultimate sauce! An iconic shrimp dish from Beijing
Description
A luxurious seafood dish always served at Northern Chinese banquets. Giant shell-on prawns are fried to release the red shrimp marrow from the heads, then reduced in soy, sugar, and wine into a glowing red glaze.
Restaurants serving You Men Da Xia (Braised Prawns)
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The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Large shell-on prawns
- Soy sauce
- Sugar
- Cooking wine
- Scallion
- Ginger
- Veg oil
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe]
- Devein shell-on prawns. Snip only the sharp rostrum and legs. *NEVER peel shells/heads.
- Heat generous oil; fry julienned scallion and ginger.
- Add prawns and fry on medium until red.
- Use a spatula to press down hard on the prawn heads, squeezing the red marrow directly into the oil.
- Pour in cooking wine, soy, heavy sugar, salt, and hot water.
- Cover and steam-braise on low for 3-
- mins.
- Open lid, blast on high until the sauce turns syrupy and glazes the prawns beautifully.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Shrimp marrow squeezed from the heads and depth of charred soy
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
Can be perfectly made with JP head-on shell-on shrimp
Pairing
White Rice / Jasmine Tea
Trivia
A technique to maximize the flavor of Kuruma prawns from Shandong. Adopted into Beijing Imperial cuisine, it remains an indispensable premium feast for New Year's and celebrations.
Eating tips & etiquette
Grab the prawn with both hands and lick the sweet-spicy glaze off the shell. Then snap the head to suck the marrow, peel the shell, and eat the meat. The sauce on your fingers is delicious.
Allergen
Shrimp, Soybeans, Wheat