Chingri bhaaja – ghee-fried prawns

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Asma Khan's ghee-fried prawns recipe is simple to make, yet most definitely a dish for special occasions. As there is no sauce to cover the prawns in this dish, Asma says it's imperative to source the biggest, finest prawns you can, which can be pricey but are well worth it for their impressive flavour and texture. Chillies, ginger and garlic provide a subtle yet warming flavour to the dish, with a touch of turmeric added for colour and aroma.

First published in 2019

Ingredients

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Chingri bhaaja – ghee-fried prawns

Method

1
Place the prawns in a bowl, sprinkle over a small pinch of ground turmeric and a large pinch of salt, then leave for 5 minutes
2
In a frying pan or wok, melt the ghee over a high heat. Add the prawns to the pan and flash-fry for a few seconds: the prawns should only briefly touch the surface of the pan, to seal them, rather than be cooked through. Using a slotted spoon, remove the prawns from the pan, place on a plate and set aside
3
To the same pan, add the dried red chillies followed by the onion, garlic and ginger paste and another small pinch of ground turmeric. Fry over a medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, or until the 'raw' smell of the paste and turmeric has disappeared. If the paste sticks to the base of the pan, sprinkle over some water
4
Return the prawns briefly to the pan and cook, stirring, until the prawns are coated in the cooked paste. The ability to cook prawns perfectly comes with experience. Overcooking makes prawns tough, so keep a close eye on them during frying and cook for no longer than 10 minutes. Taste to check the seasoning and adjust as necessary
First published in 2019

Owner of Indian restaurant Darjeeling Express and star of Netflix’s Chef’s Table, Asma Khan is one of the UK's most prominent female chefs and an unstoppable force for social change in the food industry.

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