PRAWN ROAST - KERALA KALLU SHAPPU STYLE

     This Prawn Roast Recipe is a dry side dish prepared in a typical Kerala Kallu Shappu/Toddy Shop style.  Spicy and flavour filled Prawns are slow cooked until they are well coated with the spices. Prawn Roast or Chemmeen Roast is a sinfully spicy and succulent Prawn recipe roasted in ample of Coconut Oil for an authentic Nadan flavour.  Fried Curry Leaves enhance the flavour and gives a wonderful aroma to the dish.  Prawn Roast is one common dish served in a Kallu Shappu/Toddy Shop in Kerala.  Prawn Roast can also be served as an appetizer. Thengin Kallum(Toddy) spicy Prawn Roastum is one best way to devour up the delicacies in a Kallu Shappu.
     Toddy Shops commonly called as Kallu Shappu in Malayalam have an ambience unique to themselves.  But in recent years the local Kallu Shappu has taken a wonderful transformation as just not a place for Kallu, but also for a Thani Nadan Bakshanam.  Their kitchen has taken a brand new arena, catering wide range of local delicacies, mostly Non-Vegetarian dishes.  Focused in the realm of seafood, with Seafood menu for which Kerala and its Long coastline is quite synonymous for.
     Current day Kallu Shappu knocks off the age-old look and atmosphere which was earlier a squalid shack serving local hooch. Even they have air-conditioned private rooms, but what really stands out is their kitchen. The Kallu Shappu I visited had cooks who are housewives adorned in 'Nighties'(When I say NIGHTIES, they are not the sexy skimpy lingerie type.  This one is kind of recently popular, so-called Stately(Kerala's own) Dress - a cotton Maxi like dress recently found the way into Indian women's wardrobe in last few years) are busy in the kitchen preparing various fish & seafood curries in Brass/Indolium Urulis.
     The alluring and appetizing aroma wafting from the massive vats emanates into an ebb and flow into the nostrils of the patron's kindling their appetite.  Though the menu caters a wide range of Seafood delicacies, they also have God's Own Countries, must have speciality - BEEF, followed by Chicken and Duck recipes.  But the classic style of ordering in a Kallu Shappu is to start with a Fish dish along with a side of Kappa Puzhungiyathu(Steamed Tapiocas). The tapioca comes particularly handy when you come to the dregs of the Red & Fiery Fish Curry(Meen Mulagittathu).  I believe that this combination is made for each other. Combine various other dishes like Chemmeen Roast, Karimeen Pollichathu, Beef Roast, Duck Curry along with Puttu/Appam.  Ya ya and don't forget to order a decent dose of Thengin Kallu/Toddy.
 
Cuisine - Kerala
Course - Side Dish
Spice Level - High
Difficulty - Medium
Serves - 2-3
Author - SM


Marination - 15 - 20 Minutes
Preparation Time - 10 - 15 Minutes
Cooking Time - 20 - 30 Minutes

For more recipes from GODS OWN COUNTRY - KERALA  click here...

HOW TO COOK PRAWN ROAST/CHEMMEEN ROAST  KERALA KALLU SHAPPU STYLE

 

INGREDIENTS :

To Marinate :

Prawns - 1/2 Kg
Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 Tspn
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 Tspn
Red Chilli Powder - 1 Tspn
Salt - To Taste

For Shallow Frying :

Coconut Oil - 3 Tbspns.
Curry Leaves - 2 Sprigs.

For Sautéing :

Onions - 3 Nos.
Curry Leaves - 2 Sprigs
Green Chillies - 3 Nos.
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 Tspn
Red Chilli Powder - 1 Tspn
Roasted Fennel Powder - 1/4 Tspn
Pepper Powder - 1/2 Tspn
Tamarind Paste - 1/4 Tspn
Coconut Oil - 2 Tbspns.
Salt - To taste

METHOD :

• Marinate the Prawns with the ingredients mentioned under 'To Marinate' and leave it aside for 15-20 minutes.
• Heat Coconut oil in a pan and fry curry leaves in it. Remove and keep it aside
• Shallow fry the marinated Prawns in Coconut Oil.
• When Prawns are done, remove from oil and spread them on a paper towel.
• Alternatively, you can cook these Marinated prawns with a little bit of water until 1/2 cooked.
• Heat Oil in a Pan, Sauté Onions and Green Chillies until onions turn translucent.
• Add Turmeric powder, Red Chilli powder, Fennel Powder and Pepper Powder to the above and fry for a few minutes.
• Add the Tamarind Paste and sprinkle some water to the mixture.
• Leave this mixture on a very low flame until the raw flavour goes.
• Add in the fried Prawns and mix well.
• Leave this on a low flame, mixing frequently until the Prawns become dry and well coated with the masalas.
• Serve hot with Fried Curry leaves sprinkled over it.
• Can serve Kallu shappu style Prawn Roast as an Appetizer.
• Prawns Roast/Chemmeen Roast goes well with Steamed Rice or along with Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian Curries.
• This Spicy Prawn Roast goes well with Rice Dishes, Biriyanis & Pulaos.
• Prawn Roast/Chemmeen Roast goes well with  Appam, Puttu, Parotta, Chapatis etc.,

NOTES :

• Using Coconut Oil gives the authentic taste to the dish. Can use any other cooking oil too.
• Marinated Prawns can be shallow fried in Coconut Oil, or alternatively, you can cook these Marinated prawns with a bit of water until 1/2 cooked.
• Sauté the ingredients with the remaining Oil used for shallow frying the prawns.
• Can add thinly sliced Coconut pieces in this Prawn Roast/Chemmeen Roast Recipe.
• Dry roast the Fennel seeds on a very low flame and powder it.
• Adding Tamarind to the recipe is purely optional.

 

FEW OTHER KALLU SHAPPU GRUBS:

Kappa Puzhungiyathu
Kappa Ularthiyathu Nadan Fish Fry