*122. Drunken Prawns (Shrimps)—Recipe of Yuan Mei

• ½ lb. prawns
• About ¼ pint (¾ cup) pale dry

Wash the prawns and trim off the legs. Drain them well and place them in pale dry sherry to cover. Bring to the boil and poach the prawns for 3 to 4 minutes, turning them to cook them evenly. Remove the prawns from the pan and discard the sherry. Mix the prawns with the water, vinegar and soy sauce, and let them stand for 1 to 4 hours. Peel the prawns. Arrange them neatly on a small plate. Garn