Chingri Narkel Shorshe - Prawns in a coconut mustard gravy

Sunday lunches are special. Its that one day of the week when we do nothing, watch mindless television, don't get out of our pajamas and are generally very lazy! But that doesn't mean we like to compromise on our Sunday lunch ritual. It can be a one dish meal but it better be good. And for such days I am always on the lookout for easy tasty recipes that doesn't require me to slog in the kitchen - its my Sunday too u see! With some prawns lying in my freezer I knew exactly what I wanted to make. Nopes not the usual Chingri Malai kari but something new this time - Chingri Narkel Shorshe - Prawns in a coconut mustard gravy. The recipe again uses just a few ingredients and goes very well with some hot steamed rice. Its light and fragrant gravy is a sure shot winner and making this hardly took anytime. I could simply breeze in and out of the kitchen - la,la,la

Ingredients:

Prawns - 500 gms - medium sized - deveined and cleaned

Mustard paste - 2 tbsp

Coconut milk - 1 cup

Grated coconut - 2 tbsp

Kashmiri red chili powder - 1 tsp

Turmeric powder - 1 tsp + 1 tsp

Salt - to taste

Sugar - 1 tsp

Mustard oil - 2 tbsp for frying the prawns + 1 tbsp for the curry

Nigella seeds / Kalojeera / Kalonji seeds - a pinch

Green chillies - 4-5 slit

Method: 

Wash and clean the prawns. Mix well with 1 tsp turmeric and salt. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan and saute the prawns till they turn opaque. Remove from heat and keep aside.

In another pan , heat 1 tbsp oil. Add the kalojeera/nigella seeds. Once they splutter add the mustard paste and the grated coconut. Once the coconut starts to brown add red chili powder , turmeric powder , salt and sugar. Mix well and add a little warm water to prevent the masala from burning. 

Next add the coconut milk , stirring continuously . Add the sauteed prawns and the green chillies and let the gravy simmer for 2-3 mins.

Remove from heat and serve hot with plain rice.

This I think is one of the easiest way to cook prawns. Traditionally this dish is steamed , ideally wrapped in a banana leaf. My original plan was to do it the real way and i had even arranged a banana leaf but then I got lazy and tried it out this way and it came out yumm!

You all try it out and tell me about it , till then have a great week!