Pomelo prawn and wild rice salad with burnt garlic jaggery dressing

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Preparation time
less than 30 mins

Cooking time
less than 10 mins

Serves
Serves 4

Dietary
Vegetarian

By Saliha Mahmood-Ahmed
From Saturday Kitchen

 

Ingredients

  • Garlic cloves (fat): 3
  • Red chilli (medium-strength, finely sliced): 1
  • Powdered jaggery (also known as desi shakkar): 1 tbsp
  • Lime juice (from ½ lime): ½ lime
  • Extra virgin olive oil: 2 tbsp
  • Cooked wild rice: 250g/9oz
  • Vegetable oil: 2 tbsp
  • Fresh curry leaves: 15
  • Juicy prawns (shells removed, de-veined): 200g/7oz
  • Ground turmeric: 1 tsp
  • Black pepper: ½ tsp
  • Pomelo (medium-sized, shelled, ideally pink-fleshed): 1
  • Fresh mint leaves (optional, small amount)
  • Pomegranate seeds (optional, handful)
  • Salt

Method

  1. Char the Garlic:
    • Using tongs, carefully place the garlic cloves over an open flame for 2–3 minutes.
    • Aim to char them completely on the outside.
    • Remove the garlic from the flames and transfer it to a pestle and mortar.
    • Crush the garlic with the red chilli and jaggery until well combined.
    • Add the lime juice, olive oil, and a good pinch of salt, then stir well.
  2. Prepare the Rice:
    • Tip the cooked wild rice into a bowl.
    • Stir three-quarters of the dressing through the rice.
    • Spread the rice over a platter and set it aside.
  3. Crispy Curry Leaves:
    • Heat vegetable oil in a shallow frying pan.
    • When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the curry leaves.
    • Fry the curry leaves for around 2 minutes until they are crispy.
    • Stir regularly to prevent them from catching.
    • Remove the curry leaves gently from the pan using a slotted spoon and set them aside.
  4. Cook the Prawns:
    • Combine the prawns with turmeric and black pepper.
    • Pan-fry the prawns in the same oil where the curry leaves were fried.
    • Cook for just a minute or so on either side until the prawns are caramelized and cooked through.
  5. Assemble and Serve:
    • Dress the rice with the cooked prawns and segments of pomelo.
    • Spoon over the remaining burnt garlic dressing.
    • Scatter crispy curry leaves and a few sprigs of mint and pomegranate seeds (if using).
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