Monday, October 1, 2007

My Style Shrimp Curry


Shrimp tops everyone's list when questioned about one's favorite seafood. Shrimps are also known as 'Royellu in Telugu', Zinga or Kolambi in Marathi'. Dried shrimp is commonly used in Andhra and Maharashtrian cuisines frequently and they taste great with eggs, bottle gourd, ridge gourd and eggplants. Being living in coastal cities like Mumbai (Bombay) and Visakhapatnam, got a chance to try all varieties of seafood readily available fresh out of fisherman's net.

I remember in Mumbai when the early morning local train reaches its destination the Machiwala's (fisherman also called a Kolis) rushes out of the luggage compartment with big baskets of fresh fish to the local markets. Early hours also means very busy hours in the streets of Mumbai while I used to catch the 7:53 am Kalyan start fast Local train to go to Kurla for my work. I used to hear "Machi pani ...Machi pani" in distance when these Kolis (fishermen) used to carry the fish-loads with fishy water dripping. They shout and warn pedestrians about the fishy water that drips and we all use to give way for them.

Gosh! those fishy, smelly memories of Mumbai...... I feel Mumbaites reading this might relate it in some way or the other. Well moving on to the recipe... prawns are very easy to handle in the kitchen but they can be disastrous if overcooked. They will turn out real rubbery and hard to chew on. This curry is my isshtyle recipe for shrimps which is so juicy to taste, delectable and enticing ever, Enjoy my version of this recipe!

Click here to read on how to clean shrimp (video) and for more nutritional info on shrimps click here

Source : My own
Cuisine: Andhra, South Indian

Prep time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 25 mins
Makes: 4 people
Ingredients:
1 pound of devined shrimps
1 large red onion, finely chopped
1 large ripe plum tomato, finely chopped
3-4 green chillies, finely chopped
1 tsp red chilli powder, cayenne pepper
½ tsp turmeric powder/haldi
2 tbsps coconut milk

few curry leaves
salt as per taste
1 tbsp cooking oil
roast and grind into smooth paste:
1" stick of cinnamon
2 cloves
½ tsp poppy seeds/khus khus
2 tsp grated coconut (fresh or dried)
2 cloves of garlic
small piece of ginger (optional)
2 dried red chillies
1 tsp of cumin seeds/jeera
1 tsp of coriander seeds/dhaniya
Method:
  1. Clean the shrimps as shown in the above links or you can buy cleaned ones. Marinate them with salt and chilli powder, keep covered in fridge for 15 mins.
  2. Meanwhile heat oil in a kadai and fry onions for few mins until pink and translucent. Add little bit of salt to sweat the onions and then add green chillies, tomatoes and fry for another 10 mins or so till the tomatoes are soft.
  3. Once all the ingredients turn soft add turmeric powder and the prepared paste.
  4. Fry till the raw smell of the paste goes off. Add the coconut milk and stir in the shrimps. Let it to cook for 5 mins approx.
  5. You will know they are cooked when shrimps curl into small circles, immediately turn off the heat you don't want to overcook them and end up eating the stubborn shrimps.
  6. Serve hot with rice or rotis, Indian bread.



22 comments:

Kribha said...

Looks so yummy and comforting. I want to enjoy with a paratha right now.

J said...

Hahaha Padma, being from Bombay and travelling by trains, I know the machchi phenomenon!! :)

sra said...

Looks really tasty! Machi paani - :) didn't know about that!

Happy Cook said...

You are roght everybody love shrimps. I should try this recipe. When i make it is always with coconut milk. Tours look totally different. It is on my list of must try recipe

Asha said...

My son is the only one who likes Sea food here at home.I could make it for him.Looks delicious Padma!:))

sandeepa said...

How I love shrimps and this one looks so so good

Apple said...

Looks lovely Padma...Royyalu koora is the easiest NV food I can make...those shells look impressive..

Srivalli said...

Looks great Padma...will try this out next time...mine never comes out as gravy...this is good

Laavanya said...

The gravy looks good and rich. Maybe I can try it with some vegetable.

Rina said...

Hey Padma!!!!! I'm from Vizag too. So I can feel every bit of this post. Who else can write or cook seafood better than we, who lived in the coastal areas. Luv your recipe. Never tried prawns with coconut milk. I have pictures ready for my version of Tomatoe Shirmp. Waiting for the right time to publish it. I wish somebody starts a blog event for Non-Vege and Seafood. Your presentation is cool. "Prawn curry in the sea with the sea shells".

ramya said...

this is looking yummy.But i don't eat seafood.I never prepare them.My family does eat them so like to try ur version to please my HD.Thanks dear.

Mishmash ! said...

that sure looks tasty and tempting...shrimp is my all time fav...any time, any form...I am all game :) and I loved your presentation too...great idea to create seashore look :)

Shn

meeso said...

Shrimps are sooooo good! What a yummy way to cook these tasty little guys!

Puspha said...

Looks biutiful.

sig said...

Oh I love this recipe... it is soo different from my usual shrimp curries Padma... And love that presentation too.. :)

Kajal said...

Delicious dish plz send it my dear!!!!!!

A kitchen scientist & a white rat hubby!!! said...

wow!! shrimps,....our all time favourites!!

SHANTI BHANU said...

hi padama...even i cook the shrimp in ur way...n u must have seen heaven all the time while having it with hot hot rice....i know...i can even taste it my mouth right now..anywayz urs is goodadding jeera....i dont add..

Adity said...

Hello Padma,

My dad is Aquarian too. So you have an actual fish to feed, then I am sure you won’t need to feed my virtual fish . Do you have any pics of your fish? I have heard they are very pretty and friendly.

I saw your new recipe, but I am afraid I won’t be able to try this recipe since I am a vegetarian. I have yet to try the rice based (Ukkarisida Rotti) roti’s. It gets so busy after work that I hardly get time to try new stuff. And since we are now planning our India trip, it gets overworked on weekends too.

Pravs said...

I would like to have this shrimp curry with little rice :) Looks yummy. Nice presentation with sea shells.

lakshmi said...

i can so relate to the local train experience, i spent about two years in bombay as a student - i have no clue how local trains manage to be such big market places inspite of being horribly crowded - like how do these guys manouvre!!!!

Cynthia said...

I love shrimp curry and you're right, like so many things, people have different ways to make, enjoy and prefer it. I like my shrimp curry to just have a thick paste like "sauce".

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