A Goan prawn curry with a coconut milk base, gentle tamarind sourness and warm ground spices. It is lightly sweet, aromatic and not very hot, with tender pink prawns.
Prawn marinade turmeric
1.5 gMixed with the prawns, vinegar and salt (step 1)
Mix 400 g king prawn, shelled and deveined with tails left on, with 1.5 g ground turmeric, 15 g Goan vinegar and a pinch of salt. Leave for 15–20 minutes.
Grind 2.1 g cumin seed, 0.8–0.9 g black peppercorn and 5.1 g coriander seeds to a fine powder; set aside as the ground spice mix.
Heat 13.5 g vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry 150 g onion, finely chopped, for 5–7 minutes until it starts to turn light brown.
Add 120 g tomato, finely chopped, and cook for 5 minutes until it softens.
Add 9 g garlic, pounded to a paste, and 10 g fresh ginger, pounded to a paste, and fry for 1 minute.
Stir in the ground spice mix (the masala) and cook for 2 minutes.
Add the marinated prawns and stir for 20–30 seconds to coat them.
Pour in 406 g coconut milk, 80 ml water and 18 g tamarind paste; stir well.
Cover and simmer gently for 4–5 minutes only, until the prawns turn pink.
Add 6 g green bird’s eye chilli, slit lengthways, and 0.3 g granulated sugar; stir.
Scatter over 1.5 g coriander leaves, chopped, then taste and add salt if needed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Use equal weight; simmer gently over low heat to prevent curdling. Imparts a comparable rich texture, though it adds dairy richness without any coconut fragrance.