Goan Prawn Curry

"Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity". -Voltaire

Everyone has at least one favorite dish, though most of us have multiple favorites. On days when the sun isn't shining bright enough, a favorite dish can bring in the much required cheer. For me what makes the clouds part and the sun peep out on a gloomy n not so perfect day, is a bowl of steaming hot Prawn curry.

This recipe was given to me by a dear friend, Ammu. It tastes absolutely divine, is surprisingly easy to fix and uses minimum ingredients. In fact,  it’s so perfect that for the longest time I was just happy with her making it for us. It’s been a family favorite for the longest time now and I had never risked making it because it was always just a phone call away. Don’t we all need friends like that in our life? But, last  December, she went visiting her folks in Goa for Christmas and then her vacation continued well after the new years. Me n hubby were missing the curry so much, that, finally, I decided to try making it myself. I took the recipe from her for the ‘nth’ time and tried it. And surprise surprise……it turned out really good.

It’s a regular fare at the house now and each time the results are spectacular.  The best part….. not a drop of oil ! With the richness of  coconut and fresh coriander leaves…….it’s a must must must try recipe.  The drumstick in the recipe can also be replaced with radish  or turnips or raw mango pieces.

Goan style Prawns curry with drumstick

250 gms                                 Prawns              

½  a coconut                          Fresh Coconut - grated                                              

½ tsp                                    Turmeric powder                                                       

1 tsp                                     Red chilly powder

2 tsp                                     Dhaniya/ Dry Coriander powder              

1                                          Chopped red onion (medium sized)                       

1                                          Tomato, chopped (medium sized)

½ c                                      Water to grind

4-5 pieces                             Dried kokum

1-2                                       Green chillies, slit

1                                          Drumstick, peeled and cut into equal sized pieces

Salt, to taste

Coriander leaves to garnish

1. Wash and devein the prawns.  Apply little salt on them and keep aside.

2. Grind together the coconut, ½ an onion, coriander powder, turmeric powder and red chilly powder to a very fine paste using ½ a cup water.   

3. In a pan add the prawns, the ground masala paste, the remaining half of the onion, the tomato , slit green chillies and dried kokum.

4. Adjust the salt and water. (I added around a cup of water to the curry paste).

5. Let the curry come to a boil and then lower the flame.

6. Cook till the prawns  & drumsticks are done.

7. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

Serve hot with boiled rice.