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    Prawn Masala Recipe

    Last Updated On: Apr 8, 2025 by Aarthi

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    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 made and served in a bowl

    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
    • Prawn Masala Ingredients
    • How to Make Prawn Masala (Stepwise Pictures)
    • Expert Tips
    • 📖 Recipe Card
    • Prawn Masala | Prawn Masala Recipe | Masala Prawns

    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

    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 made and served in a bowl

    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.

    close look of prawn masala

    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.

    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.

    add ginger and garlic

    3)Add in salt, spice powders. I used turmeric, chilli, coriander, turmeric, garam masala and black pepper powder in the marination.

    add salt and spice powders

    4)Mix the spices into the prawns really well. You can let it marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

    marinate prawns

    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.

    add prawns to oil

    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.

    fry for few mins

    7)Once prawn is half cooked, remove it to a plate.

    remove cooked prawns in 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.

    now in the oil

    9)Add in whole spices. I am using fennel seeds, cardamom and cinnamon. Let the spices sizzle in oil for 1 minute.

    add whole spices

    10)Add in finely chopped onions, curry leaves and green chillies. Make sure you chop them really fine.

    add onions, chillies and curry leaves

    12)Mix the onions for couple of minutes. The raw smell should leave.

    saute for few mins

    13)Add in ginger garlic paste. Saute for 2 minutes till it gets aromatic.

    add ginger and garlic

    14)Add in salt and mix well.

    add salt

    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.

    add spice powders

    16)Once spice powders is added, saute it for 1 minute to remove the raw smell from it.

    mix spices in oil

    17)Add in finely chopped tomatoes.

    add tomatoes

    18)Mix the tomatoes into the masala.

    mix tomatoes in with onions

    19)Cover the kadai with a lid and cook on low heat for 5 minutes till the tomatoes get mushy.

    cover and cook

    20)Add a splash of water to make the masala.

    add some water

    21)Once the water is added, mix it with the onion tomato masala.

    make masala

    Making Prawn Masala

    22)Add in cooked prawns into the masala.

    add cooked prawns

    23)Mix the prawns into the masala.

    mix prawns with masala

    24)Cook on low heat for 3 to 5 minutes till combined.

    prawn masala ready

    25)Serve

    prawn masala made and served in a bowl

    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

    • Prawn Salad Recipe
    • Prawn Chukka Recipe
    • Kooni Murungai Keerai Thoran Recipe
    • Kerala Prawn Fry Recipe
    • Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe (Prawn Fried Rice)
    • Grilled Prawns Recipe

    📖 Recipe Card

    Prawn Masala | Prawn Masala Recipe | Masala Prawns

    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.
    4.75 from 12 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 183kcal

    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

      1. You can marinate the prawns overnight in fridge.
      2. Don't over cook the prawns else it may get rubbery.
      3. You can taste and adjust the seasoning in the masala.
      4. Add a squeeze of lemon juice in the end to add a fresh taste.
      5. Freshly crushed Black pepper powder can be added in the end for fresh peppery taste.
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    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servings | Calories: 183kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 379mg | Potassium: 356mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 948IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @yummytummyaarthi or tag #yummytummyaarthi!
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    Aarthi

    About Aarthi

    Over the past few years I’ve been on a mission to find and create recipes that I can make from scratch. I hope you enjoy the recipes on this blog as they are tried and true from my kitchen to yours!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Torviewtoronto

      at

      looks wonderful happy holidays to you and family

      Reply
      • Akky

        at

        5 stars
        This is my go to Indian prawn recipe. Thanks for sharing. I use a lot more onions so as to thicken the gravy.

        Reply
    2. Sashikala Mariesoosay

      at

      Wow...really mouth watering dish..love your cooking:) thanks for the share ya

      Reply
    3. Anonymous

      at

      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...:-)

      Reply
    4. Ammu'S

      at

      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 !!!!

      Reply
    5. Jessie Deol

      at

      Yummy !! Will make again for sures

      Reply
    6. christopher menon

      at

      Thank you for this wonderful recipe

      Reply
    7. Madhu Mitha

      at

      Excellent taste. I like ur way of posting recipe with practical . Very easy to make . Keep posting

      Reply
    8. Madhu Mitha

      at

      excellent recipe

      Reply
    9. Madhu Mitha

      at

      Excellent recipe

      Reply
    10. Anonymous

      at

      🙂 jus tried it...yummy.. Thnx

      Reply
    11. Rupalli Gursahani

      at

      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?

      Reply
    12. Aarthi

      at

      @Rupalli Gursahaniyes u can use frozen, thaw them first and use

      Reply
    13. Nisha

      at

      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...!! 🙂

      Reply
    14. umamahi

      at

      akka i duno how to clean the prawns..pls tel me as im gona cook it for d 1st time..thanks:)

      Reply
    15. Aarthi

      at

      @umamahijust remove the shells,Remove head. peel the skin, in the bottom, there will be a black vein remove that. Wash well and use

      Reply
    16. Anoo

      at

      Wow I tried this recipe today.. It's awesome and most demanded by my in laws... Thanks a ton for this post

      Reply
    17. Anonymous

      at

      Hi!

      I made this today and it came out BRILLIANT! My husband loved it.. Said it tastes just like Karaokudi restaurent type 😉

      Thank youuuu 🙂

      Reply
    18. deepthi vinod

      at

      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....

      Reply
    19. Deekshith Kumar

      at

      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..

      Reply
    20. Sasi Arun

      at

      Dear Aarthi,
      Tried your recipe & loved it. Thanks for contributing such a wonderful recipe. I'm yet to try your other yummy recipes.

      Reply
    21. Anonymous

      at

      Excellent receipe . Tried and tastes good.Keep rocking .

      Reply
    22. Karen Pinto

      at

      Hi Aarthi.. Hv tried a couple of ur recipes abd they have turned out awesome.. Kudos yo u.. Thanks for sharing your wonderful recipes

      Reply
    23. Unknown

      at

      REALLY NICE ,,,,,,, my family enjoyed it and got appreiciation

      Reply
    24. RevathyBharath

      at

      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

      Reply
    25. Shaista

      at

      Superrrr tasty thank you so much for sharing this recipe.please keep up the good work.

      Reply
    26. Jaya

      at

      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?

      Reply
    27. Haranath

      at

      Great taste.can I do it with lobster?

      Reply
    28. Zooz

      at

      I had tried, it was tasty and looked real masala

      Reply
    29. Jothilakshmi

      at

      Excellent recipe
      I tried it in same way really superb...

      Reply
    30. Fathima

      at

      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

      Reply
    31. Shakina

      at

      Recipe is awesome!! It came out really well! Blockbuster hit with my family!! Thanks you for sharing such a nice recipe 😊😊

      Reply
    32. Mouseylocks

      at

      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! 🙂

      Reply
    33. Shiney

      at

      Sooooper recipe.. made today and everyone liked it a lot... restaurant style... thanks for posting...

      Reply
    34. Hussain

      at

      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

      Reply
      • Aarthi

        at

        yes that is right.

        Reply
    35. vinoth

      at

      tried it. amazing recipe

      Reply
    36. Kirthika

      at

      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

      Reply
    37. Rahul Thacker, MD MHA

      at

      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

      Reply
    38. Elizabeth

      at

      Fantastic recepi. It was easy and fast. My thanks.

      Reply
    39. Elizabeth

      at

      Fantastic recipe. Easy to follow. Tasted good too.
      Regards and thank you.

      Reply
    40. Cynella

      at

      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.

      Reply
    41. dv

      at

      i tried this recipe today.
      So awesome and lipsmacking , my family said.
      Thanks for this recipe

      Reply
    42. Hema

      at

      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.

      Reply
    43. Geeta

      at

      Wow ! It was so good!! Thank you so much ..

      Reply
    44. Hema

      at

      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.

      Reply
    4.75 from 12 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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