As a new week begins, and with it comes the Monday blues. Yet, nothing is more soothing than a good, savoury meal. If you are a seafood enthusiast, prawns are surely the best way to splurge on something special on Monday. Spicy curries, flavour-packed stir-fries, are a few regional dishes prawns can lend themselves to, full of taste and texture. Whether you are in the mood for the coconut goodness of a South Indian curry or the bold spices of a North Indian tandoori dish, there's a prawn recipe to satisfy everyone. These Indian prawn dishes, represent flavours from the North, South, East, and West, and are perfect to add some indulgence to your week. Here are mouth-watering prawn dishes from across India that you can pamper yourself with on a Monday.
Chemmeen Curry
Kerala's Chemmeen Curry is a spicy coconut-based prawn curry full of flavours of tamarind and spices. The prawns are prepared in a coconut-based gravy of curry leaves, green chilies, and turmeric. It has a tangy taste due to tamarind; the dish goes well when consumed with steamed rice or appams. The perfect dish for seafood enthusiasts, who love to get that balance of heat, tang, and a slight richness of coconut.
Goan Prawn Balchao
Prawn Balchao is a spicy, tangy dish from Goa, where prawns are cooked in a fiery red masala made from vinegar, dried red chillies, and spices. The principal character of the dish must have kind of a pickle flavour which goes extremely good with either steamed rice or bread. The bold, punchy flavours of Prawn Balchao are sure to wake up your taste buds and make for an exciting meal to start the week.
Chingri Malai Curry
Chingri Malai Curry is the royal Bengali dish. It is both creamy and mildly spiced. A coconut milk-based gravy was used in the cooking with cardamom, cinnamon, and garam masala, to which prwans are added, that create the very rich, aromatic curry. And when eaten with basmati rice, it is made for an indulgent treat. The delicacy well suit those who love creamy curries but are not spicy.
Kolambi Bhaat
Kolambi Bhaat is a Maharashtrian prawn rice. Scented basmati rice tossed with prawns, flavoured by spices like cumin, mustard seeds, and green chillies. The dish is lightly spiced and has a hint of sweetness from coconut, making it a wholesome, comforting meal. It’s ideal for a Monday evening when you want something filling but not too heavy.
Tandoori Prawns
Tandoori Prawns are North Indian's delight for grilled, smoky flavours. The ingredients include prawns marinated in yoghurt, lemon juice, and a mix of spices, including cumin, coriander, and garam masala. They are tender and juicy when grilled to perfection. Serving Tandoori Prawns with mint chutney and naan or tandoori roti is the most delicious way to eat; it's a complete meal after a long day.
Konju Varutharacha Curry
Konju Varutharacha Curry is a Kerala recipe in which prawns are used in a rich, roasted coconut and spice gravy. The term 'Varutharacha' means the roasted coconut paste which forms the base of this curry. It is a delicious combination of smoky nutty flavours from coconut, balanced with red chillies and aromatic spices. This prawn curry goes well with rice or parottas and forms an indulgent meal to unwind with.