I am not necessarily a big fan of prawns, for three main reasons: (1) because they usually are grown and from far away places, (2) because when they are local they are often sold alive, like the blue prawns from Okinawa, (3) because they come as whole (understand with the head), and I must say, that fishes or others that come as whole, I am OK cooking them, but they disgust me when they are cooked. For example, fresh snapper, or sanma (which are in season now) I don’t cook them anymore because I can’t eat them after.

Anyway… the other day when shopping in Ohara there was fresh prawns, and rare enough to mention, they were coming from Choshi, a fishing port 60km north of Ohara. So I thought I would give them a try, after so long…

When the time for cooking came… hum… things got a bit complicated. As expected, looking at the whole prawns started to disgust me (really, these eyes!!!), so I tossed them in the wok, grilled them and called A. to remove the shell etc… because if I did it I wouldn’t eat them, then I chopped them, and things were ok again, or almost. I gave a good scrub to the wok before using it again for the rest of the preparation … you know eyes juice…

I am not vegetarian though we eat little animal meat, but honestly if I had to fish to eat fish and hunt to eat meat I would. The day there will be no more fish mongers and butcher to prepare the filets, I’ll turn vegetarian. I think it is one of my major weaknesses in the kitchen, my impossibility to prepare some ingredients. But I’ll live with it, be assured!!!!

Back to our prawns… I hadn’t cook some for so long that I wasn’t sure which recipe would be good, and after a little of thinking I come up with a simple pasta recipe with saffron, red bell pepper, lime, pasta and prawns if course. I was simple, fragrant and delicious. Here is my recipe.

Saffron prawns pasta

• 2 portion of pasta
• 1 red bell pepper
• 8 prawns
• 1/2 lime
• A few saffron pistils
• Olive oil, salt and pepper

Boil your pasta and reserve.

In a pan grill the prawns, shell them and chop them in 1cm long pieces. In the pan heat some olive oil. Wash the red bell pepper and chop very thinly, add to the pan, add the prawns, the saffron, salt and pepper and a bit of water, just a but. Cook a few minutes while stirring, add the pasta, stir well and serve!