Kerala prawn roast also known as chemmeen roast is made with prawns, spice powders, onions, ginger and garlic. This prawn roast taste delicious with malabar paratha or Kerala red rice. Learn how to make Keralan prawn roast with step by step pictures and video.
Kerala Prawn Roast
My family loves prawns more than any other shell fish. Every time we buy prawns from the local fish monger,I either make this prawn masala or prawn 65. But if kids requested I make this tempura prawns.
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If you love cooking prawns, then check my prawn recipe collection. I wanted to show a good recipe of prawn roast for quite a long time. Finally here I am sharing you my version of Keralan prawn roast, it is spicy, aromatic and so yummy.
About Prawn Roast
Prawn roast is also known as chemmeen roast, chemmen roast. Roast means a dry dish which is cooked in a skillet for a long time till it gets slightly crispy and charred. This recipe is very simple to make, just a few steps is involved.
The recipe is similar to my prawn tawa roast but this one has addition of onions, ginger, garlic and more spices. Unlike tawa roast, you can make this in kadai or skillet as well.
Use small or medium variety of prawns or shrimp in this recipe which helps the cooking and roasting process faster and also it taste delicious. This recipe can be served with rice or as a starter.
Similar Prawn Recipes
Watch Prawn Roast Video
Prawn Roast Ingredients
Prawns - use small to medium size prawns for this recipe. Clean the prawns, devein and pat it dry before cooking.
Spice Powders - I used a combo of Kashmiri chilli powder, cumin, turmeric, garam masala and black pepper powder in this recipe.
Onions - You can opt to use onions or shallots for making prawn roast, shallots add so much flavour to the dish.
Ginger & Garlic - I used a combo of fresh ginger and garlic which I made into a paste.
Tempering - mustard, urad dal, fenugreek and curry leaves is used for tempering.
Oil - like all Kerala inspired dishes, use coconut oil for making the curry.
How to Make Kerala Prawn Roast (Stepwise Pictures)
Marinate Prawns
1)Take cleaned deveined prawns in a bowl. You have to use small to medium size prawns.
2)Take all the spice powders in a bowl. I am using chilli powder, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, pepper powder, cumin powder.
3)Mix the spices together in a bowl.
3)Sprinkle half of the spice powder into the prawns.
4)Sprinkle salt into the prawns.
5)Drizzle in some lemon juice or vinegar.
6)Mix the spices into the prawns. Allow to marinade for 10 minutes.
Tempering Spices
7)Heat coconut oil in a pan. when the oil gets hot, add in mustard, urad dal and curry leaves. Allow them to temper.
Saute Onions
8)Add in chopped onions, green chillies and cook for 2 minutes.
9)Saute till onions gets lightly golden.
10)Add in ginger garlic paste into the onions. cook that till the raw smell leaves from it.
11)Add in the remaining spice powders into the onions.
12)Stir the spices in the onions for few seconds till raw smell leaves.
Add in Prawns
13)Add in the marinated prawns into the onion mixture. Toss the prawns to coat with the onions and spice mixture.
14)Cook for few minutes till prawns is cooked completely.
15)Prawn roast is ready to serve.
Expert Tips
- Use small, medium size shrimp in this recipe which taste better.
- You can use chopped shallots instead of onions.
- If you prefer slightly tangy taste, one chopped tomatoes can be added.
- Make sure you use cast iron pan for better caramelization.
Serving
This prawn roast taste delicious with malabar paratha or Kerala red rice.
More Prawn Recipes to Try
📖 Recipe Card
Kerala Prawn Roast Recipe | Chemmeen Roast Recipe
Ingredients
For Tempering
- 3 tbsp Coconut Oil
- 1 tsp Mustard Seeds
- 1 tsp Urad dal
- ¼ tsp Fenugreek Seeds
- 2 sprig Curry leaves
For Prawn Roast
- 20 medium Prawns
- 1 large Onion chopped finely
- 2 no Green Chillies chopped finely
- 1 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
Spice Powders and for Marinating Prawns
- 1 tbsp Kashmiri Chilli Powder
- 1 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 2 tsp Cumin Powder
- 1 tsp Garam Masala Powder
- 2 tsp Black Pepper Powder
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice or Vinegar
- 1 tsp Salt or to taste
Instructions
- Take all the spice powders in a bowl and mix well. Set this aside.
- Sprinkle half the the spice mix to the cleaned prawns. Add in lemon juice and salt to the prawns and mix well. Set aside for 10 minutes to marinate.
- Now heat oil in a pan, add in mustard, urad dal, fenugreek seeds, curry leaves and let it sizzle for a minute. Add in onions, green chillies and salt. Saute till onions is well browned. Now add in ginger garlic paste and saute for a minute.
- Add in the remaining spice powders, saute for few seconds. Now add in prawns and coat this well in the masala for few minutes. Now cook the prawns on low heat for 5 more minutes and the prawns is well roasted.
- Now increase the heat and brown the prawns till it is completely roasted. Serve hot.
Video
Notes
- Use small, medium size shrimp in this recipe which taste better.
- You can use chopped shallots instead of onions.
- If you prefer slightly tangy taste, one chopped tomatoes can be added.
- Make sure you use cast iron pan for better caramelization.
Nutrition
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Anonymous
I note that this a version of keralan prawn roast......but in keralan prawn roast we dont use cumins..........I always try your recipes skipping cumin....
Anonymous
Aarthi, keep up the good work. I think you need to devein the prawns before cooking. Just look it up.take care
Preetha
Yes, i too noticed cumin not used in kerala prawn roast. Looking very tempting!! 🙂
Unknown
superb recipe !! i visit your blog often, some of my other fav from ur blog that i have tried is , nadan chicken dishes, and so many others which i cant keep count of 🙂 yours is my go to blog these days 🙂 i tried the prawns today it is super ! and when i say iam mildly allergic to it , while my rest of the family is fullyn allergic , lol, i prepare it just for myself coz this is one of those small luxury i allow myself very rarely 🙂 Thank you for making it worthwhile to try something for myself :)!
Vanashree
I love prawns but, don't know many quick n easy ways to make them .Tried your recipe and loved it.. Thanks a lot ☺️
Pratip
Great!!