Prawn Masala is a popular spicy masala dish made with prawn cooked in an onions, tomatoes and spices made into thick masala like sauce. This spicy masala prawns is best served with rice, roti or paratha.
Prawn Masala
Delicious prawn masala is one of my favorite. It is easy to make and taste pretty delicious with literally anything starting from rice, chapati, roti, or paratha. This is my favorite dish along with prawn thokku.
Table of Contents
About Prawn Masala
Masala is a term used in Indian cooking. Cook onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic in oil flavoured with whole spices, spice powders like chilli, coriander, turmeric, cumin and make into a thick sauce like consistency which is called as masala.
Prawn masala or shrimp masala is a popular South Indian recipe which is also made in many parts of Kerala. Marinate Prawns with spice powders, ginger and garlic. Cook marinated prawns in coconut oil for few minutes. Make a basic masala with onions, tomatoes and spices and add in cooked prawns.
This is a quick recipe which is made in less than 30 mins. Actually prawns takes only few minutes to cook. The only time consuming bit is making the masala. Taste and balance the spices in the masala which makes this dish taste perfect.
Similar Recipes
- Prawn Fried Rice
- Grilled Prawns
- Prawn Fry
- Tempura Prawns
- Prawn Biryani
- No Coconut Prawn Curry
- Chilli Prawns
Prawn Masala Ingredients
Coconut Oil - This dish taste great when cooked in coconut oil. The aroma of coconut oil pairs well with prawns.
Prawns | Shrimp - use small to medium size prawns in this recipe which absorbs the masala better and taste great.
Whole spices - spices like cinnamon, fennel, cardamom is used to flavour the masala. It also reduces the smell from the shrimp.
Onions - Onions is chopped fine in this recipe which literally disintegrates into the masala. Instead of onions, you can use chopped shallots.
Green Chillies - This recipe has chilli powder also. so adjust green chilli accordingly.
Tomato - Tomatoes can be pureed and used or chop it pretty finely.
Ginger Garlic Paste - equal amount of ginger and garlic made into a coarse paste is added in masala and marination.
Spice Powders - chilli, coriander, turmeric, garam masala powder, and black pepper powder are the base spices used in masala and marination.
Prawn Masala in 3 Easy Steps
Marination & Frying Prawns
Take cleaned prawn in a bowl, add all the marination ingredients in it and mix well. Let it sit for 10 mins. Now heat oil in a kadai. Add the marinated prawns and toss well in the oil. Let it cook for 5 to 7 mins till it is cooked, turns pink and curls. Remove the prawns alone in a bowl leaving any of the juices in the kadai.
Making Masala Base
In the same oil, add in cinnamon, fennel seeds and cook for a min. Add in onions, curry leaves and green chillies. Now add in ginger garlic paste, salt, spice powders and mix well for a min. Add in tomatoes and mix well. Cook covered for 5 mins or so on a low heat till it turns mushy.
Making Prawn Masala
Now increase the heat and add some water and mix well. Add the cooked prawns and mix well. Cook for 5 mins or so. Serve with rice or roti.
How to Make Prawn Masala (Stepwise Pictures)
Marinate Prawns
1)Peel the shell and head from whole prawns, devein and rinse prawns. Squeeze excess water from the prawns and take the cleaned prawns in a bowl.
2)Add in ginger and garlic paste. I like to take equal amount of ginger, garlic in a blender and crush them into a coarse paste without adding water.
3)Add in salt, spice powders. I used turmeric, chilli, coriander, turmeric, garam masala and black pepper powder in the marination.
4)Mix the spices into the prawns really well. You can let it marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Cooking Prawns
5)Heat coconut oil in a kadai. If you don't prefer coconut oil, you can use any oil. Add in the marinated prawns.
6)Saute prawns in coconut oil for 2 to 3 minutes. Don't over cook, because we will be cooking it again in the masala.
7)Once prawn is half cooked, remove it to a plate.
Making masala
8)Now we will be using the remaining oil which is in the kadai. it is full of flavour so don't discard.
9)Add in whole spices. I am using fennel seeds, cardamom and cinnamon. Let the spices sizzle in oil for 1 minute.
10)Add in finely chopped onions, curry leaves and green chillies. Make sure you chop them really fine.
12)Mix the onions for couple of minutes. The raw smell should leave.
13)Add in ginger garlic paste. Saute for 2 minutes till it gets aromatic.
14)Add in salt and mix well.
15)Now add in spice powders. this is the same mix of spice which i used in marination. It has chilli powder, coriander, turmeric, garam masala and black pepper powder.
16)Once spice powders is added, saute it for 1 minute to remove the raw smell from it.
17)Add in finely chopped tomatoes.
18)Mix the tomatoes into the masala.
19)Cover the kadai with a lid and cook on low heat for 5 minutes till the tomatoes get mushy.
20)Add a splash of water to make the masala.
21)Once the water is added, mix it with the onion tomato masala.
Making Prawn Masala
22)Add in cooked prawns into the masala.
23)Mix the prawns into the masala.
24)Cook on low heat for 3 to 5 minutes till combined.
25)Serve
Expert Tips
- You can marinate the prawns overnight in fridge.
- Don't over cook the prawns else it may get rubbery.
- You can taste and adjust the seasoning in the masala.
- Add a squeeze of lemon juice in the end to add a fresh taste.
- Freshly crushed Black pepper powder can be added in the end for fresh peppery taste.
More Prawn Recipes
📖 Recipe Card
Prawn Masala | Prawn Masala Recipe | Masala Prawns
Ingredients
Whole Spices
- 3 tbsp Oil
- 1 piece Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Fennel Seeds
- 2 Cardamom
For Prawn Masala
- 1 large Onion chopped finely
- 1 slit Green Chilli
- 1 sprig Curry leaves
- 1 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
- 1 tsp Chilli powder
- 1 tsp Coriander powder
- ½ tsp Turmeric powder
- ½ tsp Garam Masala powder
- ½ tsp Black Pepper powder
- 2 medium Tomato chopped finely
- Salt to taste
- ½ cup Water
For Marination
- 250 grams Prawns cleaned
- 1 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
- 1 tsp Chilli powder
- 2 tsp Coriander powder
- ½ tsp Turmeric powder
- ½ tsp Garam Masala powder
- 1 tsp Black Pepper powder
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Take cleaned prawn in a bowl, add all the marination ingredients in it and mix well. Let it sit for 10 mins.
- Now heat oil in a kadai. Add the marinated prawns and toss well in the oil. Let it cook for 5 to 7 mins till it is cooked, turns pink and curls. Remove the prawns alone in a bowl leaving any of the juices in the kadai.
- Now let the juice bubble up and reduce for a couple of mins. Now add in cinnamon, fennel seeds and cook for a min.
- Add in onions, curry leaves and green chilli. Saute for 5 mins or so. Now add in ginger garlic paste and mix well for a min. Add in salt and all spice powders and mix well for a min.
- Add in tomatoes and mix well. Cook covered for 5 mins or so on a low heat till it turns mushy. Now increase the heat and add some water and mix well.Cook this for a min.
- Add the cooked prawns and mix well. Cook for 5 mins or so.
- Serve with rice or roti.
Notes
-
- You can marinate the prawns overnight in fridge.
- Don't over cook the prawns else it may get rubbery.
- You can taste and adjust the seasoning in the masala.
- Add a squeeze of lemon juice in the end to add a fresh taste.
- Freshly crushed Black pepper powder can be added in the end for fresh peppery taste.
Nutrition
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Torviewtoronto
looks wonderful happy holidays to you and family
Akky
This is my go to Indian prawn recipe. Thanks for sharing. I use a lot more onions so as to thicken the gravy.
Sashikala Mariesoosay
Wow...really mouth watering dish..love your cooking:) thanks for the share ya
Anonymous
Great recipe. ...we just enjoyed the superb taste. So yummmy....U r a great cook.
My husband dont like prawns that much but today I made this n he loved it a lot n asked me to make more. 🙂
I have tried some of ur recipes n it came out well n I got lots n lots of appreciation from my friends n family...
Thankyou so much for ur recipes...waiting for many more mouthwatering recipes...:-)
Ammu'S
the dish wash was sooo tasty.... i love cooking and i am juz a beginner in kitchen... so i have tried some of your recipes and it turned out great.. thanks a lot for uploading these recipes.. u r a great cook !!!!
Jessie Deol
Yummy !! Will make again for sures
christopher menon
Thank you for this wonderful recipe
Madhu Mitha
Excellent taste. I like ur way of posting recipe with practical . Very easy to make . Keep posting
Madhu Mitha
excellent recipe
Madhu Mitha
Excellent recipe
Anonymous
🙂 jus tried it...yummy.. Thnx
Rupalli Gursahani
Hello...this looks really yummy...I will be trying it soon...just wanted to know if frozen prawns are used for this, will it be fine?
Aarthi
@Rupalli Gursahaniyes u can use frozen, thaw them first and use
Nisha
Made this dish last night. My family loved it. Very simple to make and super tasty. Thanks.i am going to try one of your egg curries tonight...!! 🙂
umamahi
akka i duno how to clean the prawns..pls tel me as im gona cook it for d 1st time..thanks:)
Aarthi
@umamahijust remove the shells,Remove head. peel the skin, in the bottom, there will be a black vein remove that. Wash well and use
Anoo
Wow I tried this recipe today.. It's awesome and most demanded by my in laws... Thanks a ton for this post
Anonymous
Hi!
I made this today and it came out BRILLIANT! My husband loved it.. Said it tastes just like Karaokudi restaurent type 😉
Thank youuuu 🙂
deepthi vinod
Hi aarthi,
Thanks for sharing this recipe... My husband loves prawns made this way...n me too. .now every weekend we buy prawns n the recipe is now by heart for me....
Deekshith Kumar
it was yummy recipie i,i tried it yesterday all liked this recipie,thank madam for this delicious recipie.
i added 2 tbsp of baffat masala together it tastes good..
Sasi Arun
Dear Aarthi,
Tried your recipe & loved it. Thanks for contributing such a wonderful recipe. I'm yet to try your other yummy recipes.
Anonymous
Excellent receipe . Tried and tastes good.Keep rocking .
Karen Pinto
Hi Aarthi.. Hv tried a couple of ur recipes abd they have turned out awesome.. Kudos yo u.. Thanks for sharing your wonderful recipes
Unknown
REALLY NICE ,,,,,,, my family enjoyed it and got appreiciation
RevathyBharath
Hi dear.. I'm new to cooking... if I cooked anything it came out average only... my husband and my family members will use to kid me... my hubby is a prawn taster but I don't like prawns so I thought to do it for him by saw ur recipes.. and now it came out very well.. all r shocked in my family... its so fabulous... thank u dear
Shaista
Superrrr tasty thank you so much for sharing this recipe.please keep up the good work.
Jaya
Hi,
Did you use gingelly oil?
Also, can I add uncooked prawns directly to the masala and then cook it instead of cooking it first separately?
Haranath
Great taste.can I do it with lobster?
Zooz
I had tried, it was tasty and looked real masala
Jothilakshmi
Excellent recipe
I tried it in same way really superb...
Fathima
Hi !!!
I'm a beginner in cooking... when I prepare each dish ,il refer to your site,awesome tastes,and easy instructions to carry out.This prawn masala is my favourite on the whole... Every weekends il prepare this prawn masala,and it is the best....Thank you.... and wish you all the best
Shakina
Recipe is awesome!! It came out really well! Blockbuster hit with my family!! Thanks you for sharing such a nice recipe 😊😊
Mouseylocks
Great recipe! I made this today but skipped the cinnamon, cardamom and the green chilli. Added ground fennel seeds instead of whole and also added a handful of garlic cloves (slightly bashed with my knife) when adding the ginger/garlic paste to the pan. Turned out GREAT! Everyone loved it. Definitely making this again. Thanks for posting! 🙂
Shiney
Sooooper recipe.. made today and everyone liked it a lot... restaurant style... thanks for posting...
Hussain
Hi Aarthi, I plan to make this recipe today. I need clarity on the quantity of Masala to be used.
If I read it correctly, the recipe requires a total of 1 tsp of Garam Masala I.e. 1/2 tsp for marinade and then another 1/2 tsp to be added after you fry the prawns? Is my understanding correct?
So just to be clear there is one set of Masala used in prawn marinade and another set used for cooking after the prawns have been fried.
Please urgently respond
Thank you
Aarthi
yes that is right.
vinoth
tried it. amazing recipe
Kirthika
Hi Aarthi
The receipe looks yum.. We have pre-cooked prawns at the moment.. Can you please let me know if there is any steps that needs to be skipped or added? Please respond ASAP as I am having guests and planning to make a prawn dish as they are a fan of prawns
Rahul Thacker, MD MHA
Thanks Arthi for this recipe. I made it for my wife and turned out to be one of the best tasting one! That was last week and now she wants it again!
Any way to print or download just recipe part?
Best regards,
Rahul Thacker, MD
Laguna Beach,CA
Elizabeth
Fantastic recepi. It was easy and fast. My thanks.
Elizabeth
Fantastic recipe. Easy to follow. Tasted good too.
Regards and thank you.
Cynella
Loved it. The prawn masala was so tasty and went great with plain rice and dal. I even took second helpings. Thanks for the easy recipe.
dv
i tried this recipe today.
So awesome and lipsmacking , my family said.
Thanks for this recipe
Hema
Fantastic recipe. Easy to make and the children loved it. Thank you so much. Have made this many times and once even with seer fish. Turned out just great.
Geeta
Wow ! It was so good!! Thank you so much ..
Hema
I’ve made this dish many times as it turns out great each time. The last time I used it along with ghee rice. Layered it in that like a biriyani and it was a great hit. So, many compliments. All of them go to you. Thanks for the fantastic recipe again.