Coconut Prawn Curry
Ma Nourriture
Growing up in a Muslim family in Cape Town, we celebrated Eid after a month of fasting (from sunrise to sunset with no food or even water, for a whole month). Eid was a day of family, friends and feasting. I've always loved it. You get to dress up, socialise and eat. Who doesn't love that? Besides bestie, of course.
Prawn curry is one of the traditional dishes found on all "Cape Malay" tables because curry is a staple and prawns are fancy. So for our Eid celebration in the UK this year (lockdown family Zoom meeting shenanigans!) I followed tradition. Sort of.
The issue is that I struggle to follow both traditions and instructions. So I made up a version of my own. For example, coconut milk isn't usually added but I love adding a Thai twist to a prawn dish. I also love peas, so they went in too. And the end result was a taste celebration in itself.
Ingredients
Look out for: ♡ swaps we love ! potential sensitivities 🅥 vegan alternatives
292 cal/serving
Calcium, Potassium, Sodium
Vitamin A & K
Serves 4
! Garlic cloves Learn about garlic >
3
♡ Leek chopped Learn about leeks >
1/2
Rapeseed oil
for cooking Buy
Water
3.5 cups
Tinned peas
(170g) 280ml Buy
Fresh ginger cut into fine strips
10cm
Coconut milk
1 cup (241g) 250ml Buy
Fresh deshelled prawns
2 cups (600g) 500ml
Fresh lemon squeezed
2 tsp
Coriander
handful
♡ Brown rice
1 cup (201g) 250ml
Spices:
Ground cumin
Garam Masala
Ground ginger
Dried coriander powder
Turmeric powder
Stick cinnamon
Cardamon pods
1/2 tsp 2.5ml
1 tsp 5ml
1 tsp 5ml
1 tsp 5ml
1 tsp 5ml
1 small
2
Swapsies
! Garlic is a high FODMAP food. I don't react to it, but if you're not sure what you're reacting to, garlic and onions are well-known offenders. You can still use garlic-infused olive oil, but replace the fresh garlic with chives and/or mustard seeds.
♡ I swapped onions for leeks, which I'm less intolerant to. If you're sensitive to the whole allium family (onions, leek and garlic), skip them altogether.
♡ Try sprouted rice instead! I swapped white rice for brown, which has more nutrients and fiber. Did you know you can up the nutrients and lower the calories further just by the way you cook it? It rice takes more planning though, as it needs a few days in a jar.
Method
First:
BRAISE
- Crush the garlic in a mortar & pestle.
- Braise with the leek in oil in a pot on medium heat.
- After 5 min, add water and simmer for another 5 min.
Then
THE COOKING
- Add all the spices, peas and ginger. Allow to cook for 8 min.
- Keep checking the water level and top up as needed so that it doesn't burn.
- Add coconut milk and cook for 8 min stirring continously to prevent top layer of milk froth from getting brown.
- Add prawns, lemon juice & coriander and let it simmer for a few more minutes.
Finally
THE RICE
- Rinse rice thoroughly (2/3 times).
- Bring a pot of water (2.5 cups) to the boil then add rice and lower the heat.
- Add 1/2 tsp salt and turmeric and cook for 12 min.
- Remove the pot from the heat and leave in the hot water for another 3 min.
Or, something different
The sprouted rice
Prep 2-3 days beforehand
- Place ½ cup brown rice in a jar or if you own an actual sprouter, use that!
- Fill with water, cover with a sprouting screen or mesh sprouting lid. Soak 12 hours or overnight.
- Invert the jar over a bowl at 90 degrees so that the rice drains and air circulates.
- After 12 hours of draining, rinse and drain again. Repeat 2 -3 times.
- Tiny sprouts should begin to form in 2-3 days. At this point, sprouting is complete. Drain well.
- It's now ready to cook, as above but without steaming. It can be stored covered in the fridge for 2 days.
Serve warm, garnish with fresh coriander
Biesmillah ma' lekker!
(Cape Malay: Start eating, in the name of God, eat well!)
For the love of:
GARLIC
- Helps maintain blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and protects against heart disease.
- Strengthens the immune system and encourages good gut bacteria.
- Contains antioxidants that prevent cell damage and may have anti-ageing properties.
- Protects joint cartilage from damage reducing the risk of osteoarthritis.
