Dried shrimp masala, Kerala style…
One of the delicacies made with dried shrimp in Kerala is dried shrimp chammanthi or dried shrimp ground with freshly grated coconut. It’s served along with rice or rice porridge. There are also other dishes made with dried shrimp like dried shrimp masala, dried shrimp curry, dried shrimp combined with veggies, etc.
On a warm Saturday, I tried dried shrimp masala. I picked a warm day, while cooking this I wanted to open the windows so that the smell of the dried shrimp won’t linger in my kitchen. The taste of this dish is so incredible and I served it for lunch with rice, coconut yogurt curry and beans thoran.
Grind the dried shrimp masala & make it like a chammanthi
Dried Shrimp Masala
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: Thasneen
Recipe type: Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients
- Oil- 1 tbsp
- Mustard seeds- 1 tsp
- Whole Red dry chilies- 2
- Curry leaves-1 sprig
- Small onions, sliced- 7
- Ginger, minced- 1 inch slice
- Garlic minced- 2 cloves
- Green chilies, chopped- 1
- Dried shrimp- 1½ cups
- Chili powder- 1 tsp
- Turmeric powder- ⅛ tsp
- Water- ¼ cup
- Grated coconut- ½ cup
- Salt- ½ to ¾ tsp
Instructions
- Place a saucepan over medium heat, add oil, let the oil turn hot.
- Add mustard seeds, let splutter.
- Add dried red chilies halved and curry leaves, saute for a few seconds.
- Add small onions, season with salt and saute for a minute.
- Add ginger, garlic and green chilies, saute till onions turn golden brown.
- Add dried shrimp, combine well.
- Add chili powder, turmeric powder and salt, combine well and cook for a minute.
- Add water, cook for 2 minutes.
- Add grated coconut and cook for a few minutes till water has dried off.
- Dry roast for 3 minutes till coconut and dried shrimp turns golden brown.
- Dried shrimp is salty, so add salt based on your needs.
- This can be served like this or can be ground coarsely without adding water like a chammanthi.
- Here is how this has to be enjoyed: Hot matta rice, pour coconut-thenga curry over the rice & add the dried shrimp masala or chammanthi, combine everything & enjoy.
