Indian cooking
Indian cooking / Dishes / Andhra Royalla Pullusu
Andhra Royalla Pullusu (Spicy Prawn Curry with Raw Mango, Chilli, Curry Leaves and Coriander)

Andhra Royalla Pullusu

Spicy Prawn Curry with Raw Mango, Chilli, Curry Leaves and Coriander
Non-vegetarianOrigin Andhra

A hot, sour prawn curry from Andhra, thickened with tomato and raw mango and finished with coconut and fresh herbs. It tastes tangy, chilli-hot and aromatic, with prawns just cooked through.

Prawn marinade spices

3.7 gTossed with the prawns before frying (step 2)
Mix well so the prawns are evenly coated; leave to stand.

Ground coriander for the sauce

5 gStirred into the softened tomato base (step 7)
01
5 g1 tablespoon
spice
Keep ready to fry for a minute before the prawns go in.

Everything else

01
King prawn · Bada Jhingapeeled but tails left on
300–360 g10–12 prawns
seafood
02
27 g2 tablespoons
oil/fat
03
Onion · Pyazfinely chopped
200 g
vegetable
04
3–3.8 g12–15 leaves
herb
05
1.5 g1 chilli
vegetable
06
Tomato · Tamatarfinely chopped
170 g
vegetable
07
16 g1 tablespoon
vegetable
08
248 g250 ml
liquid
09
140 g
fruit
10
Coconut · Nariyalfreshly grated
~30 ghandful
fruit
11
14–16 g7–8 sprigs
herb
12
~30 ghandful
herb
13
to taste
salt
14
Fresh ginger · Adrakroughly chopped
10 g2½ cm
aromatic
15
Garlic · Lehsunroughly chopped
15 g5 cloves
aromatic
16
50 g50 ml
liquid

Method

  1. Blend 10 g fresh ginger root, 15 g garlic and 49.7 g water to a smooth paste. Leave to stand.
  2. In a bowl, toss 300–360 g king prawn with the prawn marinade spices and leave to stand.
  3. Heat 27 g vegetable oil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add 200 g finely chopped onion and fry for 10–12 minutes until light brown.
  4. Add 3–3.8 g curry leaf and 2 g green bird’s eye chilli, slit lengthways, and fry for 20 seconds.
  5. Add the ginger and garlic paste and stir for 1 minute, scraping the base of the pan.
  6. Add 170 g finely chopped tomato and 15.6 g tomato purée. Stir and cook for 4–5 minutes until the tomato softens.
  7. Add the ground coriander for the sauce and fry for 1 minute.
  8. Add the prawns with their marinade and cook for 1 minute.
  9. Lower the heat, add 248 g water and 70 g of the 140 g coarsely grated unripe mango, and season with salt. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
  10. Remove from the heat. Stir in the remaining 70 g unripe mango, 30 g freshly grated coconut, 14–16 g chopped mint and 30 g chopped coriander leaf.

Don't have something?

King prawn
  • Tiger prawn

    Use the same weight; split or halve if large. Same sweet shellfish flavour, similar cooking time.

  • Large prawn

    Use the same weight; they may need 1 minute less cooking. Slightly less sweet.

  • Firm white fish fillet

    Use the same weight, cut into chunks and add 2-3 minutes later. Flakes easily and lacks prawn juice.

Ground turmeric
  • Ground ginger

    Use 50% of the weight. Mimics turmeric's warm, earthy, rhizome background, but provides none of the golden-yellow colour.

  • Saffron

    Steep a tiny pinch (0.1 g per 2 g turmeric) in 2 tbsp warm water; use to match the rich golden hue. Contributes an aristocratic, honeyed floral flavour rather than earthy bitterness.

Kashmiri chilli powder
  • Dried kashmiri chilli

    Grind deseeded dried pods to an equal weight of powder; gives identical vivid red colour and gentle warmth.

  • Red chilli powder

    Use 25% of the weight mixed with sweet paprika for colour; straight red chilli powder is substantially hotter and will make the dish fiery.

  • Chilli powder

    Use one-third of the weight; the sauce will be less intensely red and notably sharper in heat.

Vegetable oil
  • Peanut oil

    Use 1:1 by weight. Handles high-heat frying identically and introduces a very subtle, pleasant nuttiness.

  • Ghee

    Use 1:1 by weight. Yields a much richer, authentic aroma and a glossy, heavier mouthfeel.

  • Mustard oil

    Use 1:1 by weight. Heat until smoking, then cool slightly before cooking to temper its intensely pungent, sharp mustard kick.

Onion
  • Shallot

    Use equal weight, finely sliced. Shallots soften and brown faster, giving a slightly sweeter and more delicate base to curries.

  • Cabbage

    Use 80% of the weight, finely shredded and browned slowly with a pinch of asafoetida. Replicates the bulk and natural sweetness in gravies without allium.

Curry leaf
  • Bay leaf

    Fry 1 bay leaf for every 5 curry leaves in hot oil; imparts a warm, woodsy background note, but misses the citrus-sulphury punch entirely.

  • Lime juice

    Add a small squeeze (about 5 ml per sprig of curry leaves) right before serving; provides sharp citrus top notes without the toasty, herbal aroma.

Green bird's eye chilli
  • Bird's eye green chilli

    Use the same weight; heat and flavour are very close.

  • Green chilli

    Use 1.5 to 2 times the weight; deseed for less heat. Larger chillies are more watery.

  • Fresh green chilli

    Use 1.5 to 2 times the weight; chop finely and adjust heat by tasting.

Tomato
  • Tomato purée

    Use 40% to 50% of the fresh tomato weight mixed with a splash of water. Imparts a deeper red colour, thicker sauce, and slightly sweeter cooked flavour.

  • Plain yogurt

    Use 60% of the weight, whisked smooth and added on low heat. Provides rich body and sourness, though the gravy becomes paler and creamier.

Tomato purée
  • Tomato

    Use 200% to 250% of the weight. Finely grate or blend fresh tomatoes, then cook them down until the moisture evaporates and the oil separates.

Ground coriander
  • Coriander seeds

    Dry-roast lightly in a pan and grind to a fine powder; use equal weight (1:1). Offers a noticeably fresher, brighter citrus note.

  • Ground cumin

    Use 50% to 75% of the weight. Lacks the floral, citrusy profile of coriander and turns the gravy heavier, earthier, and darker.

  • Garam masala

    Use 50% of the weight and stir in near the end of cooking. Adds warmth and depth since it contains ground coriander, but introduces stronger spices like clove and cinnamon.

Water
  • Stock

    Use the same weight in savoury dishes; it adds body, so adjust salt.

  • Milk

    Use the same weight only in doughs or creamy dishes; it makes the result richer.

  • Coconut water

    Use the same weight in curries or rice; it adds sweetness and a faint coconut taste.

Unripe mango
  • Raw green mango

    Use the same weight; peel and grate or slice. It gives the same sourness and texture.

  • Green mango

    Use the same weight; peel and prepare as the recipe says. Check sourness before adding extra lime.

  • Dried mango powder

    For sourness only, use about 1–2 tsp (3–6 g) for 100 g mango and add with the spices. It gives no texture.

Coconut
  • Fresh coconut

    Use equal weight freshly grated or diced. Delivers the identical sweet, milky taste and juicy texture.

  • Desiccated coconut

    Use 60% of the weight and soak in hot water or milk for 15 minutes before using. The finished dish will be slightly sweeter and less fibrous.

  • Dried coconut

    Finely grate and use 50% of the weight, soaked in hot water for 20 minutes. Yields a firmer chew and a denser, oilier coconut aroma.

Mint
  • Dried mint

    Use about 30% of the weight of fresh mint. Rub between your palms to crush before stirring in; the flavour will be more intensely herbal and less bright.

  • Coriander leaf

    Use equal weight, finely chopped. Adds fresh citrusy green notes, but lacks the cooling menthol lift.

Coriander leaf
  • Coriander

    Use equal weight finely chopped; this is the exact same fresh herb.

  • Mint

    Use half the weight finely chopped; provides vibrant green freshness, though the flavour profile becomes noticeably cooler and sharper.

Fresh ginger
  • Ginger paste

    Use equal weight. Sauté in hot fat until the raw allium smell disappears; slightly wetter, but provides identical warmth and pungency.

  • Ground ginger

    Use 20% to 25% of the weight (1 g for every 4 to 5 g fresh). Stir into the gravy; adds peppery heat and warmth, though it misses the crisp, zesty kick of raw root.

Garlic
  • Garlic paste

    Use equal weight. Fry gently in oil or ghee with the ginger; incorporates smoothly into curries without visible minced bits.

  • Garlic powder

    Use 15% to 20% of the weight (about 1 g for every 5 to 6 g fresh cloves). Whisk into sauces; gives a savoury, toasted garlic flavour without raw pungency.

  • Shallot

    Use 1.5 times the weight, very finely minced. Sauté until golden; provides savoury allium sweetness, though it lacks garlic's pungent sulphur bite.

Similar dishes

Nellore Royalla Vepudu
Spicy Prawns with Fennel, Garlic, Chilli and Tomato
Nellore Royalla Vepudu tastes pungent, spicy and lightly sweet from shallots and tomato, while this dish tastes tangier and hotter from raw mango and chilli.
  • Same: Nellore Royalla Vepudu shares king prawns, curry leaves, turmeric, Kashmiri chilli powder, ginger, garlic, tomato and vegetable oil with this dish.
  • Different: Nellore Royalla Vepudu is a dry fry with mustard seed, fennel seed and banana shallots, and it lacks this dish's raw mango, coconut, mint, tomato purée and added water.
Maharashtrian Kolambicha Kalwan
Prawn Curry with Curry Leaves, Green Chillies, Coconut and Coriander
Maharashtrian Kolambicha Kalwan tastes tangy and rich from coconut milk and tamarind with moderate heat, while this dish tastes tangy, chilli-hot and aromatic from raw mango, green chilli and fresh herbs.
  • Same: Maharashtrian Kolambicha Kalwan shares king prawns, turmeric, vegetable oil, curry leaves, green bird’s-eye chilli, Kashmiri chilli powder, ginger, garlic, coconut and coriander leaf with this dish.
  • Different: Maharashtrian Kolambicha Kalwan uses coconut milk, tamarind paste, malt vinegar, cumin seed and black peppercorn and lacks this dish’s onion, tomato, tomato purée, raw mango and mint.
Parsi Prawns Patia
Spiced Prawns in Tomato Gravy
Parsi Prawns Patia tastes savoury, mildly spicy and gently sweet-sour, while this dish tastes tangy, chilli-hot and aromatic.
  • Same: Parsi Prawns Patia shares prawns, tomato, onion, garlic, turmeric, Kashmiri chilli, ground coriander, curry leaf and vegetable oil with this dish.
  • Different: Parsi Prawns Patia uses vinegar, lemon and jaggery for sour-sweet balance plus mustard seed, cumin seed and black peppercorn, while this dish uses raw mango, coconut, mint, green bird’s eye chilli and ginger.
Ginger-Marinated King Prawns with Turmeric, Mustard & Chilli
Adraki Tandoori Jhinge
Ginger-Marinated King Prawns with Turmeric, Mustard & Chilli tastes sharp, warming and lightly smoky from the yoghurt marinade and grilling, while this dish tastes tangy from raw mango and tomato, chilli-hot and aromatic with curry leaves and coconut.
  • Same: Both use king prawns, turmeric, Kashmiri chilli and ginger, and both are hot, aromatic prawn dishes.
  • Different: Ginger-Marinated King Prawns with Turmeric, Mustard & Chilli uses yoghurt, chickpea flour, mustard oil and ground ginger in a grill marinade, while this dish is a wet curry with onion, tomato, tomato purée, raw mango, curry leaves, coconut, mint and coriander.