Prawn / Chemmeen Perattu

Ingredients:

1/2 kg prawns / chemmeen, cleaned

12-15 shallots

4 garlic cloves

small piece ginger

1 small tomato, chopped

2 sprig curry leaves

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1 tbsp kashmiri chilli powder

1/2 tsp pepper powder

1/2 tbsp fennel seeds

salt to taste

1/2 tsp garam masala

2-3 slit green chillies

3-4 tbsp coconut oil

Preparation:

1. In a blender, add shallots, garlic, ginger, tomato, few curry leaves, turmeric powder, kashmiri chilli powder, pepper powder, fennel seeds and salt and grind well together to a smooth paste.
2. Add cleaned prawns in a bowl and marinate with half of the prepared masala paste and keep it aside for 15 minutes.
3. Heat coconut oil in a pan and add marinated prawns and cook for 4-5 minutes at medium flame.
4. Then add remaining masala paste and mix well and cook till masala is well coated with prawns and the oil separates.
5. Add garam masala and mix well. Adjust the salt.
6. Add few curry leaves and slit green chillies and mix well. Remove from the flame and serve as a side dish...