Prawns with Tomato, Dill and Feta

Goodbye April, welcome May – how quickly time is passing. It’s already time again for another SRC reveal!

Each month, I step outside Wandering Spice to participate in the Secret Recipe Club, a Secret Santa of recipes, so to speak, where bloggers across the globe are paired up to prepare a dish from another’s blog. It’s been a refreshing way to peer beyond my own happenings and into the world of other food lovers and writers. It was a matter of serendipity that this month I was connected with Shari in New York.

Shari cooks her way through her mother’s treasured recipes and shares anecdotes about family life. After reading only a few of her stories, I fell in love with what sounded like the perfect lunch: prawns braised in a fragrant tomato sauce, softened with earthy oregano and dill and topped with sharp feta. Tastiness aside, it was the significance of the recipe that drew me in and begged me to try it. It was just so timely.

In less than six weeks the Australian Man and I will trek 24 hours to Washington DC to get married, reunite with family we haven’t seen in two years, and relax after what will have been a wonderful but incredibly busy year.

Amidst the many projects we are juggling, I am calmed and reassured that regardless of the seemingly endless daily task lists, long days, and early mornings, that time spent in the company of my family is just around the corner. Judy and I may not know each other, but after reading about her experience – her vulnerability but excitement, her love for family, her connection to loved ones through the kitchen – I believe we would understand each other.

Serves 3-4; adapted from My Judy the Foodie for Secret Recipe Club

500g / 1 lb raw prawns

4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 onion, minced

1 400g can good quality diced tomatoes

Zest and juice of 1/2 lemon

2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped

1 tbsp dried oregano

1/2 block (90g) feta cheese

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

In a medium bowl, toss the prawns, lemon zest, juice, half of the dill and oregano and fresh black pepper. Set aside to marinate.

In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and saute, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and saute an additional minute until fragrant. Stir in the tomatoes, the remaining dill and oregano, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and let simmer 15 minutes.

Fold the prawns into the sauce, making sure each one is amply coated. Increase heat to medium-high and simmer, stirring to coat occasionally, 3-4 minutes until the prawns are tender and cooked-through. Coarsely crumble the feta and sprinkle atop each serving.