Laman



Monday, 21 November 2011

Goan Recipes

Goan Recipes


Prawn Balchao: The Goan Prawn Pickle

Posted: 21 Nov 2011 02:00 AM PST


This is a special recipe, Prawn Balchao is something I adore. My wife, 10 month old baby and I are back from a road trip, we drove from Mumbai to Nepal and back. Prior to leaving my mother was over and we cooked this Prawn Balchao.

So when we got back there was this full bottle of Balchao waiting for me in the fridge, needless to say I finished the entire thing in one go. So I am excited to share this one with you. As usual, you guys are in for a treat!

Prawn Balchao Masala Ingredients:
prawn balchao masala ingredients
24 Kashmiri Chillies
1 Inch Piece Ginger
6 Flakes Garlic
1 and 1/2 Teaspoon Jeera
1/2 Teaspoon Haldi Powder
A Small Ball of Tamarind
Vinegar around 200ml

Other Prawn Balchao Ingredients:
prawn balchao gravy ingredients
2 Medium Sized Cups of Prawns
4 Medium Onions cut fine
1/2 Inch Ginger cut into Jullians
6 Flakes of Garlic cut fine
2 Green Chillies
2 Sprigs of Curry leaves
300 to 500 ml of Oil depending on storage

Put all the masala ingredients in the blender
put the prawn balchao ingredients into the blender
They needed to be blended in vinegar so add around 200ml
blend the ingredients in vinegar
It needs to be a fine blend take for example the masala below is not quite done, can still see the chilly seeds and its coarse.
semi done balchao masala
Hope your prawns are cleaned or you can do that while your masalas getting done.
a bowl of fresh prawns
Your Balchao Masala should look like what it is below.
balchao masala
Once your prawns are cleaned, saute them for a while.
stir fry the prawns
Now you need to chop the second set of ingredients, onions, ginger and garlic.
chop the second set of ingredients
Your prawns should be fried by now, keep them aside till they cool off and become easy to handle.
keep the fried prawns aside
Put some oil into the pan and put the curry leaves on the fire.
fry the curry leaves
Add the juliennes of ginger and stir fry with the curry leaves.
add the juliennes of ginger
Then add the garlic pieces are continue frying
add the garlic pieces
When slightly brown add the onions and yes, keep frying!
add the onions keep frying
While thats happening, chop your prawns into pieces this is if you have large or medium size prawns. You want the masala flavour to get into it.
chop the prawns into pieces
You have reached a culinary check point once your onions are nice and brown.
saute till brown
Its time to add the balchao masala to the ingredients.
add the balchao masala
Now mix the masala up with the ingredients and let it fry as well.
fry the balchao masala
Once thats done, add the chopped pieces of prawn to the masala, your prawn balchao is nearly ready.
add the chopped prawn pieces
Mix the prawn balchao ingredients in the masala till its spread evenly.
mix the prawns in the balchao masala
Split and cut into pieces two green chillies or more if you want your prawn balchao extra spicy.
chop a green chilly or two
Add the green chilly to the prawn balchao and your done. If you are going to consume the balchao immediately you can use less oil during the steps.

If you plan on preserving it for a long time add more oil, you need to make sure once you bottle it, there should be oil floating above the contents for it to be well preserved.

Hope you enjoyed yet another recipe my mother had to offer :) As usual, please help us by spreading and sharing our website, thanks all!