For her sinigang na hipon (prawn sinigang) chef Melissa Miranda uses fresh grapefruit and lemon juice for the sour notes in the full-bodied fish broth that bathes succulent, grilled head-on Argentinean prawns and earthy charred shishitos.
1 small (6-ounce) yellow onion, peeled and halved lengthwise
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
4 medium garlic cloves, smashed
1 small (11-ounce) red grapefruit
1 ½ tablespoons fish sauce, plus more to taste
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
Fine sea salt, to taste
Additional Ingredients
12 deveined unpeeled head-on raw large Argentinean prawns (about 1 1/2 pounds) or 1 1/2 pounds deveined unpeeled head-on raw extra-large shrimp
1 tablespoon seasoning salt (such as Johnny's Fine Foods)
1 tablespoon canola oil, divided
12 medium shishito peppers (about 3 ounces)
Small fresh cilantro leaves and thinly sliced watermelon radish, for serving
Direction
Bring fish broth, tomatoes, onion, ginger, and garlic to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, uncovered, until flavors meld and liquid has reduced to about 3 1/4 cups (about 6 3/4 cups including solids), about 45 minutes.
Using a Y-shaped peeler, remove grapefruit peel in 6 to 8 long strips. Cut grapefruit in half crosswise, and squeeze to yield 1/2 cup juice. Discard squeezed grapefruit. Remove broth mixture from heat, and add grapefruit juice and peel strips. Let mixture stand 10 minutes. Pour mixture through a fine wire-mesh strainer set over a medium-size heatproof bowl; discard solids. Return strained broth to saucepan; stir in fish sauce and lemon juice. Add salt and additional fish sauce to taste. Cover and keep warm over low.
Preheat grill to medium-high (400°F to 450°F). Toss together prawns, seasoning salt, and 2 teaspoons oil in a medium bowl. Toss together shishito peppers and remaining 1 teaspoon oil in a separate medium bowl. Arrange prawns and shishito peppers on unoiled grates; grill, uncovered, turning occasionally, until prawns are cooked through and peppers are lightly charred and tender, about 4 minutes per side. (Prawn shells will start to release from the meat when they're cooked through.)
Divide sinigang broth evenly among four bowls. Arrange 3 prawns and 3 shishito peppers in each bowl. Garnish with cilantro and radish, and serve.