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Food Guide to Cooking

Here's a classic Kerala recipe to making chemmeen thoran or coconut prawn stir fry in 15 minutes

Made with a handful of ingredients, this is the perfect dish to be eaten with steamed rice



Step by step guide to making chemmeen or prawns thoran at home
Image Credit: Supplied/Sobha Varghese

Known for its seafood, Kerala's chemmeen or prawn variations are popular at every dining table in the southern state. This traditional recipe is quite easy to make and is also very tasty. Pair it with steamed white rice and fish curry, this dish is a must try!

So here's how you can make chemmeen thoran or prawn stir fry...

Preparation time: 10 to 15 mins

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

Here's what you will need: Shrimp...

... cambodge, grated coconut, prawns (deveined), curry leaves, ginger, garlic, shallots, red chilli powder and turmeric powder

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  • 400 gms prawns
  • 200 gms coconut, grated
  • 150 gms shallots
  • 1 tsp red chilli powder
  • ¼ tsp turmeric powder
  • 6 green chillis
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 3 inch ginger
  • 3 pieces cambodge ('kudampuli' or Malabar tamarind)
  • 3 sprig curry leaves
  • 1 ½ tbsp coconut oil
  • Salt to taste

Method

Step 1: Peel and devein the prawns. Wash and clean it thoroughly. Keep it aside.

Devein the prawns, wash and clean it thoroughly...
Image Credit: Supplied/Sobha Varghese

Step 2: Crush the shallots, green chillis and ginger together using a mortar and pestle. Keep it aside.

Step 3: Using a food processor, grind the coconut, red chilli powder and turmeric powder to a fine mix.

Using a mortar and pestle, crush the shallots, green chillis and ginger. In addition to this, finely grate the coconut with red chilli powder and turmeric powder as well
Image Credit: Supplied/Sobha Varghese

Step 4:To a thick-bottomed pan (preferably earthenware or manchatti to get the authentic taste), mix all the ingredients and blend it nicely. Add three sprigs of curry leaves and salt for taste.

Mix all the ingredients together and add curry leaves and salt to taste
Image Credit: Supplied/Sobha Varghese
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Step 5: Next, add the prawns into the pan and mix it well. Then add 200 ml of water, cambodge and slit three green chillies as well.

Time to add the prawns...

... mix it well with water...

... and add cambodge, green chillis and curry leaves

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Step 6: Close with lid and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Let it cook for 15 minutes
Image Credit: Supplied/Sobha Varghese

Step 7: Open the lid and cook till the water fully evaporates. Stir occassionally.

Step 8: Finally add a tablespoon of coconut oil and a sprig of curry leaves.

Top the dish with a tablespoon of coconut oil and curry leaves
Image Credit: Supplied/Sobha Varghese

Step 9: Turn the flame off and cover the ‘manchatti’ with its lid for 5 minutes, so that the dish can soak up flavour.

Chemmeen thoran or par
Image Credit: Supplied/Sobha Varghese
Sobha Varghese
A home-maker based in Mumbai, Sobha runs a popular YouTube blog called ‘Sobha's Kitchenette’ that focuses on authentic and traditional Kerala recipes.
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