Goan Prawn Curry recipe | How to make Authentic Goan Prawn Curry | Easy Prawns Ambot tik

Goan Prawn Curry recipe – Goan Prawn Curry is a simply delectable spicy and tangy prawns curry or shrimp curry from Goa. In Goan prawn curry, medium-sized shelled & deveined prawns are cooked in a gravy made with coconut, tamarind, vinegar, curry leaves and a few simple spices and herbs. This prawn curry is an authentic dish of Goa, a traditional curry known as Prawns Ambot tik or Shrimps Ambot tik in the local Goan language (Konkani). In Konkani language, “Ambot” means tangy or sour & “Tik” means spicy or hot. Plain rice goes best to have with Goan prawns curry.

Goan prawn curry is one of the very much simple recipes that any time you can prepare at home if you have just bought fresh prawns from the market or you have prawns in the freezer. However, this Goan curry is impossible to cook without coconut (at least without coconut milk), tamarind, curry leaves and kokum (or at least white vinegar) are not available in your pantry. And rest of the ingredients are common in every Indian kitchen. So let’s check out how to prepare this shrimps curry with easy steps with pictures.

How do I make Goan Prawn Curry recipe in my kitchen?

◙ For making this Goan Prawn Curry, generally, I choose Medium to large-size tiger prawns or white prawns. You can have king prawns too.

◙ Clean the prawns (shelled & deveined prawns), and thoroughly wash them.

◙ Prepare Goan curry masala by grinding ginger, garlic, and cinnamon with freshly grated coconut followed by curry leaves, coriander powder, cumin powder, red chilli powder, Kashmiri red chilli powder, black pepper powder, turmeric powder, little water, and vinegar.

◙ Start cooking this goan curry by frying the onion in vegetable oil (or with coconut oil) followed by green chillies and curry leaves.

◙ Add the masala paste to the pan, and stir fry well.

◙ Once the masala gets dry, add salt and tamarind pulp.

◙ Add water to the pan, and stir well, when the gravy starts to boil, add the prawns to the gravy.

◙ Covers the pan, and slow-cook the prawns into the gravy.

◙ Once the prawns are cooked, add salt(if required) and cook for a little while and this Goan Curry is ready same as you had in Goa beach shacks or in Goan restaurants.

Few Important tips for this prawns curry

➡ For making Goan Prawn Curry, kokum is a must-used ingredient in Goa instead of vinegar. However, vinegar brings the same taste as kokum does in this Prawn Curry. However, kokum is not easy to find outside of Goa. So if you are sitting in another Indian states, fearlessly use vinegar instead kokum, the best substitute of kokum ever, and keep the dish with almost the same taste and flavour.

➡ Cinnamon is a must-used ingredient in this recipe as easily brings the authentic Goan flavour.

➡ Goan Prawn Curry is originally cooked with coconut oil in Goa, however, I cook it in vegetable oil. Though I found no difference in taste.

If you are a huge fan of Goan Prawn Curry, then must try my recipe and let me know your feedback about this prawn dish in the comment section below.

Goan Prawn Curry recipe Vs Other Indian Prawn Curry recipes?

Onion, ginger, and garlic are commonly used in making all Indian Prawn Curry recipes. Whereas South Indian style Prawn Curry recipes commonly prepare with coconut, curry leaves & tamarind pulp, and even coconut oil. Only Kokum (which can be easily replaced with vinegar as both work the same) and cinnamon create a different taste and flavour in Goan Prawn Curry.

Is Goan Prawn Curry spicy?

Yes, Goan Prawn Curry is a bit spicy, and tangy too. However, almost all recipes especially goan curry is mostly hot & spicy and slightly tangy. Because of using pepper & spicy Piri Piri chillies or Tarvoti or Butao or Mosrio chillies in Goan Ambot tik curries. However, grated coconut or coconut milk, tamarind & vinegar (originally kokum) dilute the fieriness of the gravy.

Can I make Goan Prawn Curry recipe with frozen prawns?

Yes, you can use frozen prawns in cooking Goan Prawn Curry. But If using frozen prawns, must put them in water until gets soft. Then shelled and devein the prawns before cooking.

We Bengali have a few more prawn curry recipes cooked with coconut as Goa. Just like

Chingri Macher Malai Curry (A Bengali Prawn Curry cooked with Coconut Milk).

Daab Chingri (a Bengali-style Prawn curry cooked in tender coconut)

Chingri Bhapa (Another Bengali Style Steamed Prawns cooked with grated coconut)

Best Prawns Starters ever

Japanese Tempura Prawns

Chinese Prawn Balls

Kolkata Style Prawn Cutlet recipe