Walnut Prawns Crispy Yam Ring (Yam Basket) 核桃虾球芋头圈

Prepare ingredients to make yam ring.

Also have ready seasonings for the yam dough.

Peel the yam and cut them into thin slices. Briefly wash, drain and arrange on steaming tray. Place into prepared steamer.

Steam over high heat for 20 to 25 mins till soft. Test for doneness by using a chopstick or fork. Then transfer onto a mixing bowl.

Mash the cooked yam while still hot with a potato masher and form into a yam dough.

In a separate mixing bowl, add in wheat starch. Slowly pour in boiling water, stirring continuosly until all the water in incorporated. Knead until a wheat starch paste is formed. The texture should be smooth and soft. Set aside for 5 minutes.

Mix wheat starch paste into the yam paste.Then add salt, ground pepper, sugar and five-spice powder. Mix well together.

Add in shortening and knead the mixture into a dough. The dough is ready when it doesn't stick to your hands. Divide the yam dough into 2 round portions. Wrap in cling wrap and leave in the refrigerator for about 1 hour until it is semi-solid so its easier to handle. Then we are ready to shape the yam paste dough into a ring!

Making Yam Ring:

To do this, first remove the cling wrap from the chilled yam dough. Dust your hand with a little wheat starch. Just push your thumb into the middle of the round yam paste on both sides of the round yam dough. Then gently using your fingers, press and push the hole in the middle outwards to shape into a ring. Just sprinkle some wheat starch if the yam paste starts to stick to your finger.

Another method to form the yam basket is to gently shape the yam dough into a long log. Then flatten the surface and join the two ends to form into a ring. Sprinkle with some wheat starch or flour on the work surface or yam dough if the yam sticks to your finger. And we are ready to fry the yam basket!

Frying Yam Ring:

Heat up a pot/wok of cooking oil to deep fry the yam ring using medium heat. The height of the oil used has to fully cover the height of the yam basket. To test if the oil is sufficiently hot, drop a piece of yam dough into the oil. If it stays at the bottom of the oil for a second before floating to the top, the oil is ready for frying.

First fry some vermicelli for garnishing. When oil is hot enough, put the vermicelli in and immediately remove the vermicelli from the oil once they puff up and turn off the heat. Place on serving plate.

Then heat up the oil again over medium heat. Carefully place the yam basket onto a big ladle with holes and fully submerge it into the hot oil. Deep fried till golden brown and crispy. Increase the heat when about done and remove from oil. Drain and place on top of the fried vermicelli. And we are ready to stir fry ingredients to be placed inside the yam ring!

Stir Fry Filling:

Have ready all ingredients needed for the yam ring filling.

Also prepare the sauce for the filling.

First, deskin and devein the prawns, rinse and set aside. Then pan dry some walnuts till golden brown and fragrant. Also, cut a red chilli and half a green capsicum into thick pieces. Lastly mix well all the sauce ingredients in a bowl. And we are ready to fry the filling.

Heat 1 tbsp cooking oil in a preheated wok. Add in the prawns and stir fry till it turns pink.

Then add in the rest of the filling ingredients and stir fry briskly. Add in the sauce mixture, toss quickly over high heat till the sauce is almost absorbed. And we are done!

Assemble Yam Ring:

Place the yam basket on top of the crispy rice vermicelli. Fill the middle of yam ring with the prawn filling and walnuts. Serve immediately and Enjoy!