* Coconut Prawn Curry {Hairy Dieters}

Although I've always been on the voluptuous side of voluptuous, I have never really had a problem with my weight until I hit my fortieth birthday a couple of years back. All of a sudden it mattered. Oddly (or not) I have always struggled with my age... always... right back as far as the age of twenty four (many, many moons ago *sob*) when Neil bought me a bunch of flowers the day before my twenty fifth birthday because "You seem a bit bummed out about your birthday tomorrow".

Sweet.

He hasn't bought me flowers since. His excuses vary from "It's been so long, you'd wonder what I'd done wrong if I did"... to "The only flowers you'll be getting from me will be on your funeral wreath".

Wuuuuv. Twuu wuuuuv. 

I digress (what's new?)... in December last year I started up with Weight Watchers Online for about the fourth or fifth time and it lasted until Christmas Eve (ish), which is what I'd more or less expected - because I have the attention span of a rabid gnat when it comes to following any sort of plan... plus Christmas. Really. If you expected any different you seriously haven't been paying attention. I am offended. So... any weight that I lost before the Christmas period I gained back with big brass knobs on and a side of Christmas Pudding.

I've considered trying 5:2 again, Rosemary Conley, calorie counting... stapling my face shut. I've bought both of the Hairy Dieters Cook Books in a bid to inspire myself into Thindom and as yet, have only cooked the one recipe from them. This one. Coconut Prawn Curry. It's pretty scrumptious. So I thought I'd share it.

I have actually lost a couple of pounds this week, simply by walking the dog a bit further and a bit more often... I got up this morning to discover she'd placed a "Do Not Disturb" sign beside her bed and she's hidden her leash.

I'm tempted to shout "Walkies" just to see if she bites me.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Coconut Prawn Curry Recipe {Hairy Dieters}

Serves 2
254 calories per portion (without rice)

Prep time - 5 minutes
Cooking time - 15 minutes
Total time - 20 minutes

You will need
A medium skillet/frying pan

Ingredients
2 tbsps medium curry paste (I used Balti)
2 tbsps cold water
1 onion - halved and finely sliced
1 orange/yellow bell pepper - deseeded and cut into chunks
1 tbsp mango chutney
3 large ripe tomatoes - quartered
7 fl oz/200ml half fat coconut milk
2 tsp cornflour
7 oz/200g cooked or raw peeled king prawns - defrosted if frozen
3.5 oz/100g baby spinach leaves

Method

• Put the curry paste, 1 tbsp of water, onion and pepper into the skillet and cook over a low heat for 4 - 5 minutes, stirring regularly until the onion softens.
• Add the mango chutney, tomatoes and coconut milk and bring to a simmer, cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally until the tomatoes are soft but still holding their shape.
• Mix the cornflour with 1 tbsp of water to make a smooth paste and stir it into the coconut sauce for 30 seconds or so until the sauce thickens.
• Stir in the prawns and spinach and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the prawns are hot and the spinach has wilted. If using raw prawns ensure they are completely pink before serving.
• Serve with basmati rice (or whatever floats your boat).

NOTE: If you'd like a richer sauce, use half a can of chopped tomatoes (about 7 oz) instead of the fresh ones. The calorie difference is minimal.

EAT

ONE YEAR AGO: Chilli Coconut Chicken with Noodles