Sri Lankan prawn(shrimp) curry cooked in Coconut milk.
Sri Lankan prawn curry or what some of you may know as a shrimp curry. A seafood curry with delicious, addictive flavours you can cook in under 30 minutes. Seasoned with curry powder, turmeric, and red chilli powder, mixed in with onions, and curry leaves, this prawn curry recipe is an authentic Sri Lankan curry you’ll want to try.
- Prep time
- 20 min
- Cook time
- 30 min
- Yield
- 3 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
- Ingredients to cook the prawn curry
- The ingredients mentioned below are used in standard measuring cups and spoons.
- 500 g prawns cleaned and deveined(with shell on or without shell)
- 3 tbsp oil
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 large onion sliced or chopped fine
- 1-2 green chillies split
- 2 ″ piece of cinnamon
- 2 tbsp grated/minced ginger
- A handful of curry leaves(substitute with a bay leaf)
- 4 finely sliced garlic(can be minced as well)
- 1 lemon stalk cut and the stem bruised to release aroma
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tbsp curry powder(use a regular roasted or unroasted curry powder that is available to you).
- 2 tsp chilli powder(increase as per your need)
- Salt to season as needed
- 1 cup thick coconut milk(refer to notes on best tips above for recommendations).
- Optional ingredients
- 1 large tomato chopped
- 1 tsp pepper powder(reduce if needed)
Instructions
- 1
Pull out the heads of the prawns and wash the yellow matter attached.
- 2
There are two ways you can devein shrimp.
- 3
The first step would be to make a long slit from the head of the prawn to the middle of its spine and pull out the black vein, this also makes it easy for you to remove the shell while eating.
- 4
The second step would be to insert a toothpick along the spine of the prawn and pull out the vein.
- 5
These two posts on how to properly thaw frozen shrimp and how to clean shrimp can come in handy.
- 6
Rinse the prawns with a pinch of Turmeric.
- 7
In a bowl marinate the prawns with lime juice(2 tbsps) and a pinch of salt for 15-20 minutes.
- 8
While the prawns marinate, over low heat, in a pan, pour oil then sliced onions, grated ginger, garlic, curry leaves( a sprig), green chilli, cinnamon, and sauté for 2 minutes until they become slightly brown.
- 9
Add red chilli powder, turmeric, curry powder, and salt to season.
- 10
Cook over medium heat until the ingredients come together as a thick paste making sure not to burn the spices.
- 11
Pour in the thick coconut milk and let it simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes or until the gravy reaches a thick consistency.
- 12
Taste the coconut milk gravy and season with salt if needed.
- 13
Once the gravy is thick, drain the prawns of any liquid and add them to the gravy.
- 14
Reduce heat to low, cover with a lid and let the prawns simmer in the coconut milk for 10 minutes or just until they are cooked through(refer to best tips for more notes on cooking time).
- 15
Serve with rice and your favourite vegetable curries.