Curry and rice are Goan meal staples. Every summer when we visited our grandparents in Goa, we feasted on fresh fish. My parents would make a trip to the marketplace where you had a large, wet, slushy section devoted to fish. That’s where you heard fisherwomen loudly arguing with those who tried to haggle to a price that was deemed too ridiculous! These fisherwomen, all dressed so colorfully, sat with baskets overflowing with fish of all types – Shrimp/Prawns, Pomfrets, Mackerels, Kingfish, Shark. You had to know how to haggle or else, they smelled you were a novice and you’d end up paying three times the price. When my parents brought the fish home, we’d all help with cleaning the fish, and deveining those prawns. Then would come the grinding of the masala, on this large stone – that toned up your arm muscles by the end of the summer! Rechad-filled pomfrets, rava-prawns, ambot tik with shark, and prawn curry, the very thought makes me drool. But time is a critical asset these days, and thanks to shortcuts like coconut milk cans and food processors, I can whip up the same curries and then take my time enjoying the food and reminiscing about those holidays!

Servings: 4 people Prep time: 30 mins Cook time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

20 medium-sized Prawns or Shrimp – cleaned and deveined

For Masala

• 1.5 cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 8-10 Kashmiri red chilis
• 6 Garlic cloves
• 3 tsp whole Coriander powder
• 2 tsp Cumin powder
• 1 Tamarind (marble-sized ball)
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

Other ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons Coconut oil
• 1 medium Onion chopped finely
• 1 medium Tomato chopped finely
• 1 green chili – slit
• Salt (to taste)

Method:

• Apply ½ tsp salt to shrimp and leave aside for about 15 minutes
• Grind all ingredients under “For Masala” using sufficient water to form a smooth paste. Keep aside
• In a pan heat, heat coconut oil. Add onions. Fry till onions are a light golden brown and add tomatoes. Cook for 6-8 minutes till the tomatoes are soft
• Add the ground Masala, green chili and salt to the pan. Fry for 3-4 minutes
• Reduce the flame and simmer for 8-10 minutes
• Add the shrimp and cook for 4-5 minutes (cooking times will change based on the size of shrimp used – large shrimp for 7-8 minutes, medium shrimp for 4-5 minutes and small shrimp for 2-3 minutes)
• Turn off heat and let it sit for about 5 minutes
• Serve with hot rice