Finally finding great chinese food in Rio and recipe for spicy prawn pasta

11 Feb

Yesterday I joined a group of women for chinese lunch at the Chinese Cultural Association in Rio. The place is located in the neighborhood of Tijuca, not one normally known for culinary highlights. But this one clearly is one.

The Associação Cultural Chinesa do Rio de Janeiro in Rua Gonçalves Crespo 450, in Tijuca, caters mainly for the chinese community but anybody is warmly welcomed. It counts about 800 members and has been opened since 1984.

We had delicious Peking duck, a dish you should order two days in advance to allow for the long preparation process (Tel 2293-2653) as well as  various steamed greens. The menu is large, ranging from fresh fish dishes, to pork, beef, seafood to rice and noodle dishes. The famous dim sums can be chosen as starter or part of a larger buffet to share. The drink menu is as large, offering caipirinhas, brazilian and chinese beers as well as plum and rice wines alongside traditional wines and non-alcoholic beverages.

I just regret getting to know about the place too late to attend this years chinese new years celebrations, that were held here two weeks ago, to welcome the year of the dragon. Next year a must!

Recipe for spicy prawn pasta for 2

  • 200g spaghetti
  • 500g peeled and cleaned medium sized prawns
  • 2-3 red chilis finely diced
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic pressed
  • 2-3 spring onions finely diced
  • 10 baby tomatoes halved
  • juice of 2 limes
  • 1 buch of rocket or bay spinach
  • olive oil, salt and pepper
  • coriander
  • 2 tbs grated parmesan
Boil the pasta. In the meantime heat olive oil in pan and add the chili, spring onions and garlic and fry for some minutes. Add the prawns and cook until done. Add the rocket leaves, tomatoes and lime juice and simmer on low heat for a couple of minutes. Season with salt and pepper and mix with the cooked and drained pasta. Drizzle with some more olive oil, garnish with coriander and serve with grated parmesan.

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