Cucur Udang (Bruneian Prawn and Vegetable Fritters)
In short: Crisp, lacy fritters of chopped prawn, grated carrot and spring onion in a turmeric batter, fried until golden. Best straight from the oil. It takes about 45 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 300 kcal
Cucur are batter fritters that Brunei vendors fry fresh by the dozen for tea time, in sweet versions with banana or sweet potato and savory ones with prawn. A thin batter of flour and rice flour spreads in hot oil into lacy, crunchy edges around a soft center. Serve them hot with sweet chili sauce, and eat them within minutes of frying, before the crisp edges soften.
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, rice flour, turmeric, salt, pepper and cold water into a smooth batter, about the thickness of heavy cream.
- Fold in the prawns, carrot, onion, spring onions and chili, if using.
- Heat the oil to 175°C (350°F) in a wide, deep pan.
- Drop a heaped tablespoon of batter into the oil, letting it spread slightly. Fry 4 to 5 at a time for 2 to 3 minutes per side until deep golden and crisp, with the prawns pink.
- Lift out with a slotted spoon and drain on a rack.
- Serve hot with sweet chili sauce.
Tips
- Keep the oil at 175°C (350°F). Fritters fried too cool soak up oil, and fritters fried too hot brown before the prawns cook.
- Use diced banana or sweet potato instead of prawn for sweet cucur, and skip the pepper and chili.
Questions and answers
Can I make the batter ahead?
Make the plain batter up to 2 hours ahead. Add the prawns and vegetables just before frying so they do not release water.
Can I bake cucur?
Not successfully. The batter needs hot oil to crisp and spread. A shallow pan-fry in about 1 cm (1/2 in) of oil works if you do not want to deep-fry.
Can I reheat cucur?
Yes. Re-crisp in a 200°C (400°F) oven for 5 minutes. They are always best fresh.
How long does it take to make Cucur Udang (Bruneian Prawn and Vegetable Fritters)?
About 45 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Cucur Udang (Bruneian Prawn and Vegetable Fritters)?
About 300 kcal per serving, with 10 g of protein, 32 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 300 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 10 g |
| Carbohydrates | 32 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 600 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
