Goan adapted tender cooked prawns in creamy coconut-tomato gravy

Everyone in my family are seafood lovers. This prawns recipe is a a family favourite. It’s a mildly spiced prawns curry thats both tangy and creamy. I guarantee that you’ll fall in love with this delicacy if you too love seafood.

Goa is a tiny coastline country in India. Authentic tropical Goan prawns curry is delicious, but its little complicated because of its spice mix. As for me, prawns being a tender protein, that many spices doesn’t pay much justice to its flavour. So I simplified the traditional ‘Goan prawns ambotik’ to a more tangier, perfectly spiced and lightly creamy version. It’s an absolutely healthy humble curry using simple ingredients.

. Right choice of spices- Cumin powder, turmeric powder, Kashmiri red chilli powder and  coriander powder are used in little quantities to enhance this flavour-rich dish, aiding digestion without troubling your gut.

*I used Kashmiri red chilli powder instead of  usual red chilli powder because, Kashmiri red chilli powder is more red in color but less hotter compare to normal red chilli powder.

. Tangy- *Seafood always tastes it’s best if prepared with sour additions.

Red tomato is a key ingredient in this dish which gives this dish a subtle sweetness alone with tanginess. The later taste is furthermore enhanced with an addition of tamarind pulp and a little squeeze of lemon. Mouthwatering..isn’t it?

. Coconut- Three forms of coconut-ground/milk/oil-are used in this recipe, which makes this curry healthy and creamy with good fats (MCT- Medium Chain Fatty acids that are known to boost metabolism) and subtly nutty flavour from the coconut.

. 10 to 12 small-med prawns (I used 2 inches long)

. 4 shallots-roughly chopped

. 1 red onion-roughly chopped

. 1 teaspoon garlic paste

. Half inch piece of ginger-finely julienned/minced

. Half teaspoon mustard seeds

. 4 tablespoons Coriander leaves(with stems)-finely chopped

. Half teaspoon turmeric powder

. 1 teaspoon coriander powder

. 1 cup full fat thick coconut milk

. 1 tablespoon tamarind pulp (seedless tamarind paste)

. One by fourth cup water

. 1 tomato-ground/puréed

For marinating prawns-

. 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chilli powder

. Half teaspoon turmeric powder

. One by fourth teaspoon cumin powder

. Half teaspoon salt

. 2 teaspoons lemon juice

To grind-

. 2 tablespoons of fresh grated coconut

. 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder

. 1 or 2 red/green chillies

. Half teaspoon Kashmiri red chilli powder

. Half of a small red/white onion

. 1 or 2 tablespoons of water

• Marinate the prawns for 10-15 minutes.
• Heat oil in a wide open non-stick pan and shallow fry the prawns (for maximum 2 minutes) to seal the spices. Transfer to a bowl and keep aside.
• In the same pan, heat about 2 tablespoons of oil and splutter mustard seeds. Sauté half of chopped coriander , ginger, garlic, shallots and onion till onions are translucent. Now add turmeric and coriander powder along with salt and sauté till the powders are well roasted and the raw smell is gone.
• Stir in the ground spicy coconut mix and sauté for 5 minutes (it should turn dry and oil should start to separate).
• Add the tomato puree and sauté again for another 5 minutes (till oil separates).
• Now add the tamarind pulp and stir to incorporate.
• Pour in the coconut milk and stir well to incorporate. Stir in prawns, add water and cook for 4-5 minutes.
• Turn off the flame & transfer to a serving bowl.
• Sprinkle rest of the chopped coriander on top and serve hot with a warm bowl of white rice or flatbreads.