Bang Bang, My Baby Shot Me Down

I’ve been stewing in some heavy-duty stuff over the last few days and what better way to fight fire than with fire.

Gives everything a boost, sets the tongue aflame, works as the perfect distraction for the mess the mind is in.

And I particularly love the late kick that the bird’s eye gives you. A gentle tingling sensation that suddenly becomes a gunshot.

Bang bang, my baby shot me down.

In case you haven’t heard the track, here it is. From “Kill Bill”. A Tarantino film.

Back to the bird’s eye.

And Devil Prawns.

Prawns, 200g, medium sized, shelled and deveined

Bird’s Eye Chillies, 4 to invoke the devil, slit lengthwise. 3, if you want to wimp out

Garlic, 12 cloves, finely sliced

Tomato, 1 small, diced

Onion, 1 medium, finely chopped

Turmeric, ½ teaspoon + ½ teaspoon

Oil, 1 tablespoon

Water, 1 cup

Salt, ½ teaspoon + ½ teaspoon

Dust the prawns with ½ teaspoon turmeric + ½ teaspoon salt and give them a good rub and let them stand for an hour.

Heat the oil in a pot and toss in the garlic and stir them around till you begin to get their delish aroma. Wipe the drool from your face. Introduce the onions into the mix, sweat them for a few minutes.

Add the bird’s eye chillies and give it a stir for another couple of minutes till the seeds blend with everything and wake up the devil.

Bung in the tomatoes and wait until they get mushy before adding the remaining turmeric and the salt.

In goes the water, bring to a boil and simmer for ten minutes or till reduced a 1/3^rd.

The prawns go in last. Let them simmer for another two minutes and it’s done.

Devil prawns. Devilishly yum.

Serve over rice. Or scoop up with rotis.

Or rescue a pasta.

Or just enjoy them served over nothing.

And burn.