Prawns Pickle- Kerala Chemmeen Achar
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Side dish
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients
  • Oil- ½ cup (for frying prawns)
For marinating prawns
  • Small Prawns- 80 (use fresh or frozen)
  • Chili powder- 1 tbsp
  • Turmeric powder- ½ tsp
  • Ground pepper- 1 tsp
  • Salt- 1½ tsp
For making pickle
  • Oil, left after frying prawns- 4 tbsp (Gingelly oil or vegetable oil or coconut oil)
  • Ginger, minced 2 tbsp
  • Garlic, minced- 2 tbsp
  • Green chilies, chopped- 2
  • Curry leaves- 2 sprigs
  • Add the marinade/masala- 1 tbsp
  • White Vinegar- ½ cup
Instructions
  1. Use small prawns, either fresh or frozen ones. If frozen, thaw them well before marinating. You could also use cooked frozen prawns.
  2. In a bowl, combine the prawns along with chili powder, turmeric powder, ground pepper and salt.
  3. Let marinate for 15 minutes.
  4. Place a frying pan over medium heat, add enough oil for frying.
  5. Deep fry the prawns in 2 batches. Transfer the fried prawns onto a kitchen paper towel. Keep aside.
  6. In the same frying pan, use the leftover oil after frying prawns around 3 to 4 tbsp
  7. Add ginger, garlic, green chilies and curry leaves; saute for a few minutes till they turn golden.
  8. Add fenugreek seeds, saute for a few seconds. Do not burn the seeds.
  9. Add the marinade/masala left in the bowl, if there is no enough masala: mix 2 tsp chili powder, ⅛ tsp turmeric powder & ½ tsp salt with little bit water & add this to the oil.
  10. Fry the masala for a few seconds.
  11. Add the fried prawns, combine well and stir fry for 2 minutes.
  12. Add white vinegar, combine well and cook for 2 minutes.
  13. Take the pan off the heat, let cool down completely.
  14. After it has cooled down, transfer to an air tight container & store in the refrigerator.
  15. Allow it to rest for a day, pickle will be set well and tastes better the next day.
  16. However, it's so hard to wait till the next day, everyone will start to taste this pickle right away. It never lasts more than a day in my house :D
  17. Enjoy with rice or roti.
Recipe by Cooking with Thas - Smart Cooking, Smart Living at https://thasneen.com/cooking/prawns-pickle-chemmeen-achar-kerala-recipe/