Prawn Malaikari or popularly known as Chingri Machher Malaikari is a delicacy among Bengalis. It's one of the simplest yet tastiest dish one has ever had. Made over a thin sauce of mustard and coconut, it nests a mild aroma of cardamom, clove and cinnamon; all to lure a non-veg eaters attention.
For an outsider, it would intrigue as to why a bengali babu, at the rise of the sun indulge in bargaining with a fish vendor over some petty crustaceans. If only they knew what this dish tastes like.
Economy:
Big sized Prawns or lobsters are in huge demand in any Bengali Fish Market. Off season rates might easily reach up to 700-800 INR a Kilogram. All other spices used in this preparation are readily available in any local grocery
Preparation Time:
20-25 mins (Microoven), 25-30 mins (Stove)
Ingredients:
Prawn/Lobster : 500 Gms
Coconut Milk/Coconut Powder : 1 cup/ 50 Gms
Ginger Garlic Paste: 1 tablespoon
Cumin Seeds: 1/2 tablespoon
Plain Mustard Paste/Powder: 2 tablespoon
Big Onion: 1 nos
Green Chili: 4 nos
Red Chili Powder: 1 tablespoon
Bay Leaf: 2 nos
Sugar: 1 tablespoon
Turmeric powder: 1/2 tablespoon
Whole Cardamom: 2 nos
Cinnamon: 1/2 "
Whole Cloves: 4 nos
Cooking Oil: 50 Gms
Salt to taste.
Directions to cook in a Stove/Burner
Wash the prawns/lobsters. Mix them well with some turmeric powder and salt, keep them aside. Chop the onions. Crush cardamom, cinnamon and cloves in a mortar and pestle.
Heat oil, cumin seeds and fry onions to a light brown. Add the garlic and ginger paste, bay leaf, red chilli powder and fry for about 5-7 minutes in simmer. Add the prawns and fry along with the spices for a few minutes.
Add coconut milk, mustard powder/paste, sugar, salt, water (per your requirement) and the ground spices (cardamom, cinnamon and cloves). Cover the vessel and simmer in medium heat for about 10 minutes. Add green chillies. Close the cover for another 10 minutes.
Serve hot with rice.
Directions to cook in a Microoven
Wash the prawns/lobsters. Chop the onions. Crush cardamom, cinnamon and cloves in a mortar and pestle.
Mix the Onions and Prawns/Lobsters well with Oil, some turmeric powder, cumin, green chilli, ginger-garlic paste, bay leaf and salt. Keep them in a Microoven for 3-4 Mins. Add the ground spices (cardamom, cinnamon and cloves) and out it back in Microoven for 1 Mins.
Add coconut milk/Powder, mustard powder/paste, sugar, salt and 1.5 cups of water. Cover the vessel and put it back in the Microoven for another 10 minutes.
Serve hot with rice.
For an outsider, it would intrigue as to why a bengali babu, at the rise of the sun indulge in bargaining with a fish vendor over some petty crustaceans. If only they knew what this dish tastes like.
Economy:
Big sized Prawns or lobsters are in huge demand in any Bengali Fish Market. Off season rates might easily reach up to 700-800 INR a Kilogram. All other spices used in this preparation are readily available in any local grocery
Preparation Time:
20-25 mins (Microoven), 25-30 mins (Stove)
Ingredients:
Prawn/Lobster : 500 Gms
Coconut Milk/Coconut Powder : 1 cup/ 50 Gms
Ginger Garlic Paste: 1 tablespoon
Cumin Seeds: 1/2 tablespoon
Plain Mustard Paste/Powder: 2 tablespoon
Big Onion: 1 nos
Green Chili: 4 nos
Red Chili Powder: 1 tablespoon
Bay Leaf: 2 nos
Sugar: 1 tablespoon
Turmeric powder: 1/2 tablespoon
Whole Cardamom: 2 nos
Cinnamon: 1/2 "
Whole Cloves: 4 nos
Cooking Oil: 50 Gms
Salt to taste.
Directions to cook in a Stove/Burner
Wash the prawns/lobsters. Mix them well with some turmeric powder and salt, keep them aside. Chop the onions. Crush cardamom, cinnamon and cloves in a mortar and pestle.
Heat oil, cumin seeds and fry onions to a light brown. Add the garlic and ginger paste, bay leaf, red chilli powder and fry for about 5-7 minutes in simmer. Add the prawns and fry along with the spices for a few minutes.
Add coconut milk, mustard powder/paste, sugar, salt, water (per your requirement) and the ground spices (cardamom, cinnamon and cloves). Cover the vessel and simmer in medium heat for about 10 minutes. Add green chillies. Close the cover for another 10 minutes.
Serve hot with rice.
Directions to cook in a Microoven
Wash the prawns/lobsters. Chop the onions. Crush cardamom, cinnamon and cloves in a mortar and pestle.
Mix the Onions and Prawns/Lobsters well with Oil, some turmeric powder, cumin, green chilli, ginger-garlic paste, bay leaf and salt. Keep them in a Microoven for 3-4 Mins. Add the ground spices (cardamom, cinnamon and cloves) and out it back in Microoven for 1 Mins.
Add coconut milk/Powder, mustard powder/paste, sugar, salt and 1.5 cups of water. Cover the vessel and put it back in the Microoven for another 10 minutes.
Serve hot with rice.
