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Home ยป Recipes

Published: Oct 16, 2020. Post Updated: Feb 7, 2025

Home ยป Recipes

Goan Prawn Curry

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Goan Prawn Curry or Ambot (Sour) Tik (Spicy) is a hot and sour fish dish made with Shark, Kite, Catfish, Squid or Prawns (I have made it here with Prawns). The sourness comes from Tamarind, Kokum or Vinegar and the heat from chillies and spices. There is also coconut milk which takes the edge off the heat. Some people don't use coconut milk but I think it adds a lovely creaminess.

Prawn curry in bowl with roti to side and garlic cloves and curry leaves around

What is Goan Prawn Curry?

I still remember when my mum made this curry for the first time. It became a regular recipe in our home after that.

Goan Prawn Curry is a tangy curry made using prawns or fish and a variety of spices. Coconut milk can also be added to add creaminess.

Kudam Puli can also used but it isn't easily available where I live.

Goan Prawn Curry is lovely served with rice or roti.

How to make Goan Prawn Curry 

Dry toast and grind the whole Spices for the curry paste for 1 - 2 minutes or until fragrant - Coriander seeds, Cumin seeds, Dry Red Chillies, Garlic, Cloves, Peppercorns and Cinnamon Sticks. Then blend and set aside. You may need to add a splash of water to the blender to get it moving.

Add oil to pan and once hot add mustard seeds. Once they pop, add curry leaves. Cook for a minute.

Curry Leaves and Mustard Seeds in oil in pan

Add Ginger and Green Chillies then saute for 1 minute.

Frozen ginger blocks and Green Chillies added to pot

Stir in Onions and cook for 10 - 15 minutes on low.

Add onions to pot

Add Ground Masala plus Chilli Powder, Coriander Powder, Cumin Powder, Turmeric Powder.

Once fragrant, pour in the tomato. 

Cover and cook on low for 10 - 15 minutes or until the oil separates.

Add dry Fenugreek and Black Pepper.

 

Tomatoes cooked and dry fenugreek added to pot

Pour in the Coconut Milk, Salt and Tamarind. Bring to a simmer and allow to thicken slightly.

Coconut Milk added to pot

Add in Prawns and cook for 3 - 4 minutes.

Prawns added to pot

More Seafood Recipes:

Indian Salmon Fish

Fenugreek Fish Masala – Methi Fish

Masala Fish

**If you make this recipe, don't forget to rate/comment or tag us on Social Media.

Prawn curry in bowl with roti to side and garlic cloves and curry leaves around

Goan Prawn Curry

Safira
Goan Prawn Curry or Ambot (Sour) Tik (Spicy) is a hot and sour fish dishย made with Shark, Kite, Catfish, Squid or Prawns (I have made it here with Prawns). The sourness comes from Tamarind,ย Kokumor Vinegar and the heat from chillies and spices. There is also coconut milk which takes the edge off the heat. Some people don't use coconut milk but I think it adds a lovelyย creaminess.
5 from 7 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 45 minutes mins
Total Time 50 minutes mins
Course Dinner
Cuisine Indian, South Indian
Servings 6
Calories 392 kcal

Ingredients
  

Masala Paste

  • 2 tablespoon Coriander Seeds
  • 2 teaspoon Cumin Seeds
  • 2 small sticks Cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon Peppercorns
  • 4 Dry Red Chillies
  • 1 teaspoon Cloves
  • 6 cloves Garlic

Curry

  • 2 tablespoon Oil
  • 1 tablespoon Mustard Seeds
  • 12 Curry Leaves
  • 1 ยฝ inch Ginger Crushed
  • 2 Green Chillies Pierced
  • 1 Onion Diced
  • ยฝ teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin Powder
  • 1.5 teaspoon Coriander Powder
  • ยฝ teaspoon Turmeric
  • 250 ml Tomato tin Pureed
  • 1 tablespoon Dry Fenugreek Optional
  • ยผ - ยฝ teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 400 g Coconut Milk
  • 1 teaspoon Tamarind Paste
  • Salt
  • 1 kg Prawns Deveined and cleaned

Instructions
 

  • Dry toast and grind the whole Spices for the curry paste for 1 - 2 minutes or until fragrant - Coriander seeds, Cumin seeds, Dry Red Chillies, Garlic, Cloves, Peppercorns and Cinnamon Sticks.ย Then blend and set aside. You may need to add a splash of water to the blender to get it moving.
  • Add oil to pan, once hot add mustard seeds. Once they pop, add curry leaves. Cook for a minute.
  • Add Ginger and Green Chillies then saute for 1 minute.
  • Stir in Onions and cook for 10 - 15 minutes on low or until a deep golden brown.
  • Add Ground Masala Paste, Chilli Powder, Coriander Powder, Cumin Powder, Turmeric Powder. Cook on low for 3 - 4 minutes.
  • Simmer for 5 minutes and low, then pour in the tomato.ย 
  • Cover and cook on low for 10 - 15 minutes or until the oil separates from the tomato.
  • Add dry Fenugreek and Black Pepper. Cook for a minute.
  • Pour in the Coconut Milk, Salt and Tamarind. Bring to a simmer and allow to thicken slightly. 3 - 4 minutes.
  • Add in Prawns and cook for 3 - 4 minutes.

Notes

Tamarind - You can adjust the mount of Tamarind you use and if you find you have used to much, you can balance it out with sprinklings of sugar. 
Coconut Milk - You can replace with Coconut Cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 392kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 37gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 420mgSodium: 1362mgPotassium: 501mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 436IUVitamin C: 58mgCalcium: 324mgIron: 8mg
Keyword Goan Prawn Curry, Prawn Curry, South Indian Prawn Curry, Tamil Prawn Curry
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 7 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Sreeja Nedungadi says

    January 12, 2021 at 4:56 pm

    5 stars
    I made this for my 2 daughters (13 and 16) and my husband and it was a real hit. I love the tamarind flavour in the recipe. I did reduce some of the masala paste ingredients a bit for my younger daughter but it was fabulous nonetheless!
    Thank you Safira!

    Reply
    • Safira says

      January 12, 2021 at 5:04 pm

      So so happy to read this and I am so glad your family enjoyed this Sreeja. Much love. Safira x

      Reply
  2. cliff says

    October 10, 2022 at 1:07 pm

    5 stars
    Vow. I made this following most of the ingredients. It's the best Goan recepie I've ever come across in 15 years. I'm a Goan living in the UK, it's been a boon as I can't get much Indian food here to eat. Imran real paka Indian or Goan food easily.

    Thank you so much for putting this out there. Oh I thing, I put okra with the prawns and also did a pork versions. So so so good. ๐ŸŒˆ๐ŸŽˆ๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿ˜Œ๐Ÿ˜€ Brilliant recepie.

    I'm going look at the other ones now and make a note of this website

    Reply
    • Safira says

      October 10, 2022 at 1:40 pm

      I am so glad to read this. I am so happy that you enjoyed it. Thankyou so much for your feedback and support!

      Reply

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hey...Iโ€™m safira! I share accessible Global Recipes as well as Baking recipes for home cooks. One of my passions is to teach home cooks to become more confident in the kitchen and this comes with time and experience.

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