Prawn Roast Recipe: Kerala Style Prawn Ghee Roast And Chemmeen Roast

Prawn roast, known as Chemmeen roast in Malayalam, is a tasty and spicy seafood recipe from the coastal land of Kerala. Loved by seafood lovers, this is a dish featuring strong flavours and aromatic spices. Whether you are a fan of traditional recipes or whether you would want to taste something new, kerala-style prawn ghee roast recipe and chemmeen roast will be a culinary delight. This article will guide you through the prawn ingredients and steps to make these prawn roast recipes at home.

Ingredients for kerala prawn roast

To make kerala prawn roast, you will need the following prawns ingredients:

1. 500 gram prawn, cleaned and deveined
2. 3 tablespoons ghee
3. 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
4. 1 tablespoon red chilli powder
5. 1 tablespoon coriander powder
6. 1 teaspoon garam masala
7. 1 tablespoon tamarind paste
8. A handful of curry leaves
9. 10-12 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
10. 1-inch garlic piece, finely chopped
11. 2-3 green chillies, slit
12. 2 medium onions, finely sliced
13. 2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped
14. Salt, to taste

Ingredients for chemmeen roast

For this prawn recipe, you will need similar ingredients but with slight variations listed below:

1. 3 tablespoons coconut oil
2. 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
3. 1/2 cup coconut milk

Step-by-Step Kerala prawn ghee roast recipe

Step 1: Marinate the prawns

To start with the prawn roast recipe, clean and devein the prawns and then marinate with turmeric powder, salt and red chilli powder. Let it sit for about 15-20 minutes. This infuses more flavour for the ghee roast prawns.

Step 2: Prepare the masala for ghee roast prawns

Heat ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan or kadai on medium flame. Toss in the finely chopped garlic and ginger. Cook until they take on a golden brown colour. This step of prawn ghee roast recipe helps to release the flavours that start building on with all additional ingredients.

Step 3: Cook the onions and tomatoes

Add the thinly sliced onions in the pan and cook until they become translucent then start to caramelise. This should take about 10 minutes. Then, add the chopped tomatoes and cook until they turn soft and blend well with the onions.

Step 4: Add the spices for Kerala prawn roast

Once the tomatoes are cooked, add the red chilli powder, coriander powder, and garam masala. Sauté the mixture for a couple of minutes till the spices are cooked and the oil separates from the masala.

Step 5: Cook the prawns

Now add the marinated prawns to the masala and mix well. Cook for about 5-7 minutes until the prawns are cooked through. Be careful while making this prawn roast, as they take very little time to cook and are easy to overcook resulting in tough, rubbery prawns.

Step 6: Add the final touches to your ghee roast prawns

Stir in the tamarind paste and curry leaves into the ghee roast prawns. Stir well and let it cook for 2-3 minutes so that the flavours get absorbed. Adjust the salt in this roast prawns recipe if needed.

Step 7: Serve hot

Your Kerala prawn roast is ready to serve. Transfer the ghee roast prawns to a serving dish and garnish with fresh curry leaves. Enjoy it hot with steamed rice, appam, or paratha.

Step-by-Step chemmeen roast recipe

This prawn recipe is very similar to the kerala prawn roast but with a few variations listed below 

• Instead of ghee, use coconut oil to prepare the masala for chemmeen roast, and add fennel seeds to sizzle before adding finely chopped garlic and ginger.
• For a chemmen roast, add coconut milk to the pan after cooking the spice and before adding the prawns. Cook for a few minutes until the coconut milk is well incorporated into the unakka chemmeen roast masala.
• You can skip the tamarind paste while preparing unakka chemmeen roast.

Tips for making the perfect prawn roast

1. Always use fresh prawns for the prawns recipe for the best flavour. If using frozen prawns, ensure they are properly thawed and drained.
2. Using coconut oil for chemmeen roast adds an authentic Kerala flavour. It enhances the dish’s overall taste.
3. Adjust the amount of red chilli powder according to your spice tolerance to these roast prawns recipes. Kerala dishes are known for their spiciness, but you can tone it down if needed.
4. Prawns cook very quickly. Overcooking can make them tough and rubbery. Keep an eye on them and cook just until they are done.

Variations of roast prawns recipes

• Dry prawn roast: For a drier version of prawn roast recipe, reduce the amount of coconut milk in chemmeen roast or skip it altogether. This will give you a more concentrated flavour.
• Prawn roast with vegetables: Add sliced bell peppers or tomatoes for a colourful and nutritious twist to the prawn roast recipe .
• Herb infusion: Add a handful of fresh coriander leaves towards the end of cooking for a fresh and vibrant flavour.