SHRIMPS IN COCONUT MILK

SHRIMPS  are flexible, they can be cooked in many ways.....sautéed, curried, stir fried, deep fried. They have an unique taste & flavour of their own. Bengalis use them in mixed vegetables to enhance it's taste.

Shrimps are an absolute favourite worldwide unless one has seafood allergy. In whichever way it's cooked it tastes good. I feel we should use minimal spices in it's preparation . Use of too many spices may overpower, spoil it's own unique flavour. 

Try to avoid frying it too much as it tends to turn rubbery. Shrimps and Coconut compliment each other. They just mingle / jingle pretty well. Whether we use shredded coconut or it's milk in the preparation of shrimps, it just tastes awesome. Although, my favourite curries are light, minimally spiced sans coconut milk, milk, yogurt! I liked this curry!

As per Wikipedia, Shrimps are stalk-eyed swimming crustaceans with long skinny macular tails, long whiskers, slender legs. Few varieties are Mantis Shrimp, Opossum Shrimp, Hooded Shrimp, Seed Shrimp, Fairy Shrimp. Before I start with a fairy tale on shrimps, let's start with recipe.

INGREDIENTS : 

Shrimps : 500 gm
Coconut Milk : 100 ml
Ginger Paste : 1 tsp [I used ginger extract]
Red Chilli Powder : 1/2 tsp
Bay Leaf : 1
Cumin Powder : 1/2 tsp

Coriander Powder : 1/2 tsp
Turmeric : 1/2 tsp
Salt : As per taste
Onion : 1
Oil : 2 tbsp

PROCEDURE :

De-shell, clean, wash shrimps well. Marinate with turmeric, salt. Get whole spices, powders, pastes ready on your cooking table. 

To keep in tune with the mildness of coconut milk, we are using less chilli here. Also peel, wash, slice the onion.

Heat oil in pan. Temper with bay leaf, add onion slices. Fry them until golden brown. Add shrimps, stir cook for 5 minutes.

Add ginger extract, turmeric, cumin-coriander-red chiili powders. Saute well until oil starts separating from spice mix.

Pour in coconut milk. Stir and cover. Put the gas mark at medium to low.

After 3-4 minutes, switch off the gas stove. We should not over boil the curry. It may turn the shrimps rubbery, also the curry curdles.

Garnish the way you wish to. Enjoy with piping hot steamed rice with sides of lentils and mixed vegetables!