Shrimp is pretty expensive back home in Mumbai. When I was a child, my mother only bought it on special occasions. We would go to the local outdoor Chakala fish market in Andheri East, Mumbai.
I loved all the noise and commotion of the fisherwomen with their tightly tucked-in saris yelling loudly trying to attract customers to their individual stalls. Their baskets would be teeming with glistening silvery fishes, crabs, shrimp, clams and other shellfish. Their yelling and din was mixed in with the meowing and yowling of cats. And the air would be full of the smell of ocean fish.
Very little has changed…except you’ll now see the fisherwomen shrieking into their cellphones too.
INGREDIENTS
•Oil – 3 tablespoon
•Shrimp – 1/2 lb.
•Cinnamon – 1 small stick
•Fennel Seeds – 1 tsp
•Cardamom – 2 pods
•Onion – 1 large, chopped finely
•Green chili – 1 slit
•Curry leaves – 1 sprig (called kadi patta at Indian store)
•Ginger-garlic paste – 1 tsp
•Chili powder – 1 tsp
•Coriander powder – 1 tsp
•Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
•Garam masala powder – 1/2 tsp (found at Indian store)
•Pepper powder – 1/2 tsp
•Tomato – 3 large, chopped finely
•Salt to taste
•Water – 1/2 cup
For Marination:
•Ginger-garlic Paste – 1 tsp
•Chilli powder – 1 tsp
•Coriander powder – 2 tsp
•Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
•Garam masala powder – 1/2 tsp
•Pepper powder – 1 tsp
•Salt to taste
Method:
Mix clean shrimp with the marination ingredients in a bowl. Let it marinate for 30 minutes.
Heat oil in a frying pan. Add the marinated prawns and toss well in the oil. Let it cook for 5 to 7 minutes till it is cooked.
Scoop out the prawns into a bowl, leaving behind any of the liquid in the pan.
Allow the pan juices to bubble up and reduce for a couple of minutes.
Add in cinnamon, fennel seeds and cook for 1 minute.
Stir in onions, curry leaves and green chili. Sauté for 10 minutes.
Add the ginger-garlic paste, salt and all spice powders, and sauté for 1 minute.
Add the tomatoes. Lower the heat and cook covered for 5 minutes on low heat till it turns mushy.
Now increase the heat, and add some water and mix well. Cook for about 5 minutes.
Add the cooked prawns and cook for another 5 minutes.
Serve with rice or roti.
