This is our take on the South Indian style of Ghee Roast with Shrimp. Have tried this with tiger prawns, Argentenian wild prawns, cooked shrimp of different sizes and we suggest small to medium size shrimp raw for more flavor but cooked will do as well.

For the uninitiated Ghee is clarified butter.

Ingredients:

Shrimp – 10 to 15 in numbers Medium Size, Raw

Oil 1 Tablespoon – Vegetable Oil

Ghee/Clarified Butter – 1 Tablespoon

Red Onion – 1 Large, sliced thin

Green Chili – 2 slit lengthwise

Tomato – 1 diced

Curry Leaves – Plenty, at least from 2 full twigs

Ginger Garlic Paste – 1 Tablespoon

Chili Powder – 1 Teaspoon

Garam Masala – 1/2 Teaspoon

Haldi/Turmeric – 1/4 Teaspoon

Cumin Powder – 1/2 Teaspoon

Freshly ground Coarse Black Pepper or Pepper Powder – 1/2 Teaspoon

Salt – To taste

Sugar – 1/2 Teaspoon

Steps:

1. Preparing the Shrimp
   • If frozen, defrost in cold running water for a few minutes.
   • I often cut the shrimp lengthwise end to end. Each half curls up and looks like a prawn itself, but also amps the flavor (optional)
2. Roasting the Shrimp with the Spices
   • Heat the oil in medium flame in a pan and add Curry Leaves. Once the leaves stop sputtering add the onions, salt sugar and black pepper powder and saute for 3 minutes.
   • Add Ginger Garlic Paste and saute till the smell of Ginger has reduced.
   • Add the Tomato and mix well and cover with a lid till the tomatoes are completely done and oil has separated.
   • Add Chili Powder, Turmeric Powder, Cumin Powder and saute for another 3 to 4 minutes.
   • Taste the mixture for salt and hotness and adjust as needed.
   • Add the shrimps and saute in the spices for 10 minutes on medium low flame.
   • Add Garam Masala and Ghee and mix well and Saute for a minute on low flame and then switch off the gas.

In the pics below you will notice a variation. I coated the prawns with a mix of chili powder, turmeric, black pepper, salt and corn flour. Fried it till golden brown. Good to eat just like that.

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Tips:

• Before adding Curry Leaves, can add a teaspoon of Mustard seeds and dry red Chilli to enhance the taste.
• You can deep fry the marinated Shrimp and / or coat it with Conflour and deep fry and mix after the spice mixture is ready for more crispy texture.
• Replace Shrimp with Cottage Cheese for Cottage Cheese Ghee Roast or with Chicken for Chicken Ghee Roast.