Chemmeen Curry | Konju curry | Malabar Style Chemmeen Kootan | Kerala Style Prawns Curry | Shrimp Coconut Curry

Many of you had loved this shrimp gravy when I had posted in Instagram and so I am here without much delay (maybe a little) with it's recipe. It is a classic preparation by my in laws especially Deepak's aunt.. It is very simple to make especially if you have some grated coconut and cleaned shrimps in hand. And it uses just red chilly powder for masala and the taste is brought about with the balance of tamarind and red chilly powder and of course the coconut. 

The measurements given here are just guidelines (this is exactly what I use) but they differ from family to family. So taste, adjust, taste, adjust. That's how you roll in the kitchen right :) And do not go stingy on the coconut. If you do, it does compromise the taste. Been there, done that. So do mark my words :) And when you try out this recipe, do let me know how you liked it. Now off to the recipe..

Recipe Source: Mil

Preparation Time : 10 minutes

Cooking Time : 40 minutes

Serves : 3-4 persons 

I Used:

Chemmeen/Prawns	-	12-15 (big ones) (almost 250 gm before de-shelling)
Shallots	-	4-5 nos (sliced)
Garlic	-	3-4 big ones (chopped)
Ginger	-	A 2 inch piece(chopped)
Green Chilly	-	2 nos
Tomato	-	1 medium sized one (chopped)
Red Chilly powder	-	1 tsp
Turmeric powder	-	½ tsp
Tamarind	-	A lemon sized
Grated Coconut	-	¾ cup
Salt	-	As needed
Coconut Oil	-	3-4 tbsp
Curry leaves	-	2 sprigs

The Way:

1. Clean the prawns (remove the shell and de-vein them) and rinse well in water

2. Soak tamarind in 1 cup of warm water for 20-30 minutes. Extract the pulp and keep aside

3. Grind the grated coconut to a smooth paste with water and keep aside 

4. In an earthen pot (manchatti) or a pan, heat 3 tbsp coconut oil. Add chopped ginger, garlic and slit green chillies and saute

5. When they start to turn brown in colour, add the sliced shallots and saute

6. When they turn start to turn golden, add chopped tomatoes and saute. The tomatoes should become mushy

7. When the tomatoes turn mushy and the masala seems to have reduced add in the dry powders - red chilly powder, turmeric powder and salt. I use the really hot variety of red hilly powder here and hence adding only 1 tsp. Suit yourself according to your powder and taste buds

8. Saute them for 2-3 minutes till the raw smell goes off. Then add the tamarind water to it

9. Allow it to come to a boil. Then reduce the flame and add the prawns. Now allow the prawns to cook which would take around 12-15 minutes

10. When the prawns are cooked add the coconut paste and give a stir. Check the consistency of gravy. If it is too thick add little more water. Also check salt and hotness. If they are less add more salt or red chilly powder accordingly

11. Let the gravy come to a boil. Then add 1 tbsp coconut oil and the curry leaves and gently swirl the pan and switch off the flame

Serve with matta rice and a side dish of your choice. I served with aviyal !

Cheers,

Chitz

Karuvepilai Era Thokku - Curry leaf Prawn curry

Prawns cooked in coconut-curry leaf paste

Yes !!! It does look like am going overboard on prawns rite?? Well, I got hold of some fresh prawns and I guess I got a little excited.. We do not get much of fresh prawns here, rather  it's always the processed and packed ones. And the zest was more coz I get to peel and devein the prawns all by myself. Yes, now some of you might be thinking, 'Is it actually that great an accomplishment??' 

Nah.. must not be.. But all through my childhood I have watched my mom and grand mom and aunties do that.. And when they did that the general instruction for all the kids around was 'STAY AWAY'..But I was very intrigued and would watch them and ponder on how quick and swift and meticulous they were in that process.. A twist and a pull and a rinse.. And there goes the soft flesh to the pot. I should say that I was a little scared too.. 'Won't the sword like spines on the top of their heads hurt your fingers, if you were this fast????' 

Those were the wonderings of a small kid.. Now that I have mastered thy art myself, I do not see or wonder on the risk, rather enjoy it ;) And now back to the recipe, last week I saw a different Chettinad recipe on prawns in Asianet plus channel. I knew I should make it  and share it here. And my instincts were not wrong... Instant hit.. Deeps and I loved it...

Serves: 2 persons

I Took:

Preparation Time : 20 minutes

Cooking Time : 40 minutes

I Used:

Prawns	-	200 gm
Curry leaf	-	½ cup
Coconut	-	10 sprigs
Shallots	-	6-8 nos (sliced)
Tomato	-	1 no (medium sized - chopped)
Ginger-Garlic paste	-	2 tsp
Tamarind pulp	-	2 tbsp
Mustard	-	½ tsp
Fenugreek	-	¼ tsp
Fenugreek-Mustard powder	-	2 tsp
Coconut Milk	-	3 tbsp
Gingelly Oil	-	1 tbsp
Turmeric powder	-	½ tsp
Salt	-	As Needed

The Way:

1. Clean and wash the prawns 
2. Grind together coconut and curry leaves in a mixie by adding a little water. Keep the paste aside
3. Heat oil in a kadai. Add mustard and  fenugreek
4. When it splutters, add shallots and saute
5. As the shallots start to change colour, add tomatoes and saute till they become mushy 
6. Now add the coconut-curry leaf paste and saute 
7. When it starts losing water, add ginger-garlic paste and saute till the raw smell fades off
8. Add the tamarind pulp, salt and mix. Add the cleaned prawns and required amount of water to cook the prawn
9. When the prawns are almost done, add the fenugreek-mustard powder and the coconut milk
10. Cook till the prawns are done. Garnish with coriander leaves

Notes:

Dry roast equal amounts of mustard and fenugreek. Grind them in a mixer for the fenugreek-mustard powder

Cheers,

Chitz

Shrimp Quesadilla

'Tat ta da' day - When you mix this and dash in dat and sprinkle those, you get a yummly recipe. Yes, it was that kind of day today. Wanted to eat something other than the usual 'rice and curry and stir fry' combo lunch. I was in a great mood for something spicy and cheesy and non-veggie. And there I was browsing and browsing and browsing... But none seemed satisfactory for my spice buds. That's when I thought, come on... lemme mix and dash and sprinkle ;) 

A quesadilla is like the wrap equivalent in a Mexican cuisine. It's a flour/corn tortilla filled with a savory mixture of cheese, vegetables, meet & other ingredients. An ideal lunch box idea for people on a diet (of course minus the cheese & shrimp, you can substitute with a veggie of your choice maybe bell peppers or mushroom), coz it's both yummy and fills you up for a meal ;) 

I Used:

For the Spicy Green Dip:

Sesame seeds : 1 tbsp
Coriander      : 5 sprigs
Mint              : 3 sprigs
Green chilly   : 2 nos
Ginger           : a quarter inch piece

For the Shrimp:

Shrimp                    : 50 gm
Garlic                      : 1 pod
Lime juice               : 1 tsp
Red chilly powder    : 1 tsp
Pepper powder        : 1 tsp
Cumin powder         : 1/2 tsp
Salt                         : As needed

For Serving:

Wheat Tortilla       : 1 (U can use any tortilla)

Olive Oil               : 3 tsp

Onion                   : 1 (chopped - medium sized)

Parmesan Cheese   : As needed 

The Way:

1. Grind together ingredients under 'For the Spicy Green Dip' 
2. Place the shrimp in a bowl. Marinate it with the ingredients under 'For the Shrimp' and allow it to stand for 30 minutes
3. Then cook the marinated shrimp with a little of water, until done 
4. Heat a pan on medium high. Add olive oil
5. As it heats up, add onion and saute till translucent. Add the cooked shrimps to it and toss around till dry
6. Warm the tortilla in a tava 
7. Now to assemble the quesadilla, place the tortilla. Sprinkle with the grated cheese. Distribute the spicy green dip on top of the cheese. Add the shrimp mixture to it. 
8. Now place this in the tava until it is nicely toasted and the cheese begins to melt
9. Roll it over and serve with tomato sauce or the spicy green dip

Cheers,

Chitz