Prawn Curry


If there's one thing the great city of Pune lacks, it's a beach and an abundance of fresh seafood. Sure there are a few fish markets and some scattered fish mongers, but the seafood is always expensive and unless you're really tight with the fish monger, not really that great. This would also explain the lack of good seafood restaurants in Pune. Growing up, I couldn't recall a single restaurant that was known for great fish. But in the last two years that I still lived in Pune, a restaurant by the name of Kalinga had just opened it's doors on the small road whose only claim to fame was a quick access to the Mhatre Bridge. A restaurant that tried too hard with a seating capacity of 500 and was decorated with baroquean excess. Hopefully they've toned down the decorations a bit. The only saving grace to this eyesore was the great food. And great seafood. During my limited number of visits to Kalinga I had the only acceptable prawn curry served to me in any restaurant in Pune. In Pune, the seafood is expensive and let's face it — the people are cheap. And I give Kalinga an A for effort for even trying to serve good seafood to picky, cheap bastards like myself who would cause a stink if it wasn't absolutely great. Of course, the best prawn curry I have ever had came out of my mother's kitchen and hopefully this recipe comes close.

Ingredients
1/2 cup oil
1 lb. Jumbo Prawns peeled and de-veined
1 large Onion chopped very fine
6 cloves of Garlic crushed
1 tsp Tomato Paste
3/4 tsp Turmeric
3/4 tsp Chili Powder
1 tsp Garam Masala
1 cup Coconut milk
1/2 tsp Tamarind paste
1/2 cup water
Salt to taste

Method
Heat oil in a pot
Add garlic and onions and stir till onions are translucent and brown on the edges
Add tomato paste and stir
Add turmeric, garam masala and chili powder and stir
Add prawns and make sure they're mixed well with the onion tomato mixture
Add the water to make the mixture lose
Add tamarind paste and stir
Allow to cook for a minute or two
Add coconut milk and stir
Simmer on low heat for 5 min
Do not over cook Prawns
Serve with chapatti or rice.

Comments

Aruna said…
Hello, First time here, U have a great space here, being a guy like ur interest in cooking :-)

The prawn curry tastes very delicious... I'm craving for some right now!!!

themistressofspices.wordpress.com
Pooja V said…
Hi,
I knw exactly wht u talking abt..i m total seafood lover n pune restraunts r v expensive. U shud try Nisarg nr kalinga n Coconut grove Nr Ambedkar Bhavan. Well if u really like some good goan fish curry thn chkck my very first post.
Btw i loved those paintings.
Padma said…
Jhinga bhaji looks delicious...but I missed Kalinga, I think it was not there when I was in Pune....looks spicy n creamy! Even I am feeling to taste a spoonful out of that bowl
remya said…
prawns looks spicy n delicious...i'm seafood lover too...
Anonymous said…
mitra, next time you go home, try Mahesh Lunch Home on Synagogue Street (Mostly Mangalorian prepaaration) or try Srushti near Perugate Bhave School..right next to Durga Biryani House(This is Malwani stuff)
Shella said…
I am really liking your blog. Its very reassuring to have some people from the "man" community being so passionate about cooking -I know very few. I go weak in the knees when I hear / see / speak / taste prawns. I love them soo much.
Sameer said…
There is a restaurant named "Solkadhi" in Navasahyadri , near Venky's bridge. Serves good seafood.
Anonymous said…
I'm a terrible cook but I tried this recipe and the prawn curry was amazing. Thank you!
Care should be take while preparing prawns as it sometimes results in allergy reaction.
i am not dat non veg lover.. but shall recommend this article to concerned
Sea food, something which most of the non veg lovers look for. Thanks a lot for posting

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