Five-Spice Battered Prawns (Chinese Style)

An easy to make starter and loved by all who like seafood, Five-Spice battered prawns in one of the most popular chinese starters.
Five-spice powder encompasses all five flavors - sweet, sour, bitter, pungent, and salty.
Five-Spice powder is easily available in all super markets but incase you cannot find it, I have given the steps to make 5-spice powder at the end of the recipe.

Serves 4
Ingredients:

Prawns - 500 gms (preferably large) - shelled
Salt - 1 tsp
Maida or self raising flour - 4 tbsps
5-spice powder - 1/2 tsp
Ginger - 1 piece - finely chopped
Egg - 1
Water - 4-5 tbsp
Oil for deep frying
Chopped Green Onion - to garnish

Method:
Sift the flour, salt and 5-spice powder into a mixing bowl, then add ginger. Make a hollow in the centre and add the egg. Beat thoroughly, adding the water to make a smooth light batter.
Heat the oil in a deep frying pan on medium heat. Once the oil is very hot, dip each prawn into the batter, and deep fry two or three prawns at a time for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown. Do not fry for more time, else the prawns gets rubbery and overcooked.
Serve hot garnished with spring onions.

5-Spice powder recipe:

In a dry skillet, roast 2 teaspoons of Szechuan peppercorns by shaking the pan over low to medium heat until the aroma of the peppercorns is released (about three minutes).
Grind the roasted peppercorns and 8 star anise in a blender or pepper mill.
Strain the blended seasonings.
Mix in 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon ground fennel seeds.
Grind the seasonings until very fine.
Store in an airtight container.