The Butter Crumble
A top tier version uses Nestum cereal that has been fried till it is light and airy, never oily or heavy. The cereal is the real star. It should be infused with the fragrance of fresh curry leaves and the subtle heat of sliced chilli padi. If the flakes are clumped together or taste stale, the kitchen has failed you.
Shell Preparation
A good zi char chef fries the prawns at a high enough temperature so the shells become brittle and edible. You want that satisfying crunch followed by the sweetness of the prawn meat. Sogginess here usually indicates the pan wasn't hot enough during the flash-fry.
Quick answers
- Do I eat the shell?
- If it is fried properly, yes. The shell carries all that buttery cereal goodness.
- Is it very spicy?
- Usually it has a mild kick from the chilli padi, but it is more sweet and savoury than hot.