Tiger Prawns With Fennel 茴香蝦

I used the fennel I bought from flea market and cooked it with the prawns. I was surprised to find the fennel had a texture like celery and a very pleasant fragrant but not as strong as lemon grass.  I like snow peas with shrimps, I thought this would be a good combination.

Ingredients:

5 Basil leaves
Fennel, discard the top part and slice the root as you would do with an onion.
1 lb. Snow peas
1 chili hot pepper. sliced (optional)
Tiger prawns, cleaned and rinsed
Ginger, minced
Garlic, minced
Shredded lettuce or arugula (optional)

Mixed sauce:
1 tbsp cornstarch
4 tbsp water
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp sesame oil

Directions:

1. Bring a pot of water to boil, add a little salt and blanch prawns and snow peas, drained
2. Heat up a pan with oil, saute prawns until fragrant.
3. Add minced ginger and garlic.
4. Add black pepper, hot pepper, basil, fennel and saute for 5 minutes.
5. Add cooked prawns and snow peas and cook for 2 minutes.
6. Stir in the mixed sauce and stir well.
7. Pour over shredded lettuce or arugula.