STEAMED PRAWNS IN MUSTARD SAUCE / BHAPA CHINGRI

In Bengali Homes, use of mustard seeds in cooking is a regular thing. We usemustard seeds for tempering, also use it's paste made with green chilli in various fish curries and vegetable medleys. We love the heat of the mustard seeds & green chilli paste. It might be used in the other states of India, also abroad. I remotely remember on our visit to Chennai, we had a chicken curry made with coconut and mustard paste. It appealed to my taste bud so much so that I tried to prepare it in my kitchen after decades though it may not be exactly the same. We do not use mustard in chicken, but I believe bringing in fusion in food is actually getting to know different cultures. My share today is steamed prawns marinated in mustard seed-green chilli paste. It is an easily done hassle free recipe. We usually enjoy it with piping hot steamed rice. Let us see how we do it. We can steam it on the gas top, also steam it in the microwave.

INGREDIENTS :

Prawns : 500gm [medium sized]

Mustard Seeds [black] : 2tsp

Green Chilli : 4-5

Garlic Clove : 1-2

Salt : As Required

Turmeric : 1tsp

Oil [mustard] : 2tbsp

METHOD :

We need a steel or aluminium container for this recipe if doing it on the stove top. If we do it in the microwave oven, we have to use a microwave proof bowl.

De shell and wash the prawns carefully. Rub with salt and turmeric.

Wash the mustard seeds taken in a strainer. 

Put the mustard seeds, green chilli, garlic clove, a little of salt, 2-3 ice-cubes and 1/4 small cup water in a blender.

Blend at high speed at regular intervals for 2-3 minutes or till it turns into a fine paste.

Take the marinated prawns in the container. Pour in mustard oil and the paste. Mix well, tighten the lid.

Heat 2 big cups of water in a wok. Let boil.

Place  the container on the wok, 1/4th of it has to be immersed.

We need to steam it for about 45 minutes to an hour at medium to low temperature.

If we are cooking it in the microwave, we have to pour water in a microwave proof bowl bigger than the bowl that has the marinated prawns. 

We would place the microwavable container with prawns on the water and cover it with a microwave proof cover.

We would steam it for 10 minutes at the low heat.

If the water dries up in between we need to pour in more of water. Once done let cool and then open the lid! Transfer it into a serving bowl and drizzle 2 tbsp of mustard oil. Serve hot with steamed rice.