Nadan Prawns Roast ~ Kerala Style Shrimp Roast

When the CSA box from FullCircle Farm came last Thursday, I was excited.  I had ordered some additional things other than the default produce that comes int he box. There was some Gulf Coast Shrimp and some dairy products in it. I always get very excited to cook with fresh food, especially if it is fish or meat for AJ. I try to cook as soon as I get it and try as much as possible not to freeze them. But that sometimes ends up happening too as you can’t keep them out for too long in the refrigerator. Since I knew that I will have some time during the long holiday weekend, I ordered the shrimp. I was all ready with the recipe and other ingredients to cook the shrimp with.  The recipe I used is one that I had bookmarked years ago from Varsha’s blog, Will O the Wisp. I finally got around making it and AJ loved it too. So all in all it was a well planned weekend, cooking wise atleast

Nadan Prawns Roast ~ Kerala Style Shrimp Roast – The Recipe

• Gulf Coast Shrimp (use any kind, this is what I had) – about 2 lbs
• Coconut Oil – 2 tsp
• Cloves – 3/4
• Cinnamon – 1 inch piece
• Green cardamom pods – 2
• Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
• Fenugreek Seeds – 1/4 tsp
• Fennel Seeds – 1 tsp
• Dried Red Chillies – 4
• Curry leaves – 1 sprig
• Dried Coconut Slices / Copra, broken into small bite sized pieces – 1/4 cup
• Pearl Onions, peeled and sliced – 1 cup ( if it feels like a lot to peel , substitute shallots for about half of it)
• Crushed Garlic – 1 tsp
• Grated Ginger – 1/2 tsp
• Green Chillies, slit lengthwise – 2
• Tomatoes – 2, sliced
• Fish Masala – 1 tsp
• Chopped Cilantro , to garnish
• Salt, to taste

To mix to a paste – 1 tsp chilli powder, 1 tsp coriander powder, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp powdered black pepper, 1 tbsp vinegar, 1 tbsp water

Heat the oil in a pan. Add the cloves, cinnamon and cardamom. Once they become slightly fragrant, add the mustard seeds. Let them splutter. Now add the fenugreek seeds (do not add the fenugreek seeds earlier and let them burn, they taste bitter and nasty) and the dried red chillies along with the curry leaves. Add the dried coconut pieces now. Saute till they turn to light golden color. Now add the onions to the pan. Add the crushed ginger and garlic and the green chillies too. Saute till the onions become a little translucent.

Add the chopped tomatoes to this mix, along with some salt and the spice paste (the red chilli powder, black pepper, coriander powder and turmeric powder mixed in vinegar and water) and saute till the tomatoes become soft and the oil rises from the sides. The shrimp can be added to the pan now. Give it quick mix and keep the pan closed to cook the shrimp. Remember to keep the heat to medium low at this point.  Once cooked well, switch off the heat and top with the fish masala, give one quick stir and add some chopped cilantro for garnish.

Your Prawns / Shrimp Roast is ready to be served with some rice for a yummy meal!