Goan Prawn Balchão

Goan Prawn Balchão

Goan Prawn Balchão

Small prawns pickled and cooked in a fiery, sticky vinegar-chilli masala paste — served in tiny quantities as a condiment-curry alongside plain rice. Intensely concentrated in flavour, vinegar-sour, and deeply spiced — a Goan Catholic table staple.

Cuisines

Goan

Best for

Lunch Dinner

Recipe

Prep: 15 min Cook: 30 min Total: 45 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

Prawn 250 grams Prawn , cleaned and deveined
vegetable oil 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil
Mustard Seed 1 teaspoon Mustard Seed
Onion 1 large Onion , finely chopped
ginger-garlic paste 2 tablespoons Ginger-garlic paste
vinegar 2 tablespoons Vinegar
sugar 1 tablespoon Sugar
red chili powder 1 teaspoon Red chili powder
turmeric powder 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder
Cumin 1 teaspoon Cumin , powder
coriander powder 1 teaspoon Coriander powder
tomato paste 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
salt Salt , to taste
water 1 cup Water
coconut oil 2 tablespoons Coconut oil
Fenugreek Seed 1 teaspoon Fenugreek Seed
Red Chili 2 pieces Red Chili , dried
cinnamon stick 1 small Cinnamon stick
Clove 3 Clove
Black Peppercorn 1 teaspoon Black Peppercorn

Instructions

  1. 1 Marinate the prawns with salt and turmeric powder for 10 minutes.
  2. 2 Heat vegetable oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. Allow them to splutter.
  3. 3 Add the chopped onions and sauté until golden brown.
  4. 4 Add the ginger-garlic paste and sauté for another 2 minutes.
  5. 5 Stir in the tomato paste, red chili powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, and sugar.
  6. 6 Cook the mixture for 5 minutes until the oil separates from the masala.
  7. 7 Add the marinated prawns and cook for 3-4 minutes until they turn pink.
  8. 8 Pour in the Goan vinegar and water, and bring to a simmer.
  9. 9 In a separate small pan, heat coconut oil and add fenugreek seeds, dried red chilies, cinnamon stick, cloves, and black peppercorns. Fry until aromatic.
  10. 10 Pour the tempered spices into the prawn mixture and stir well.
  11. 11 Simmer the balchão on low heat for 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
  12. 12 Adjust salt to taste and serve hot with steamed rice or bread.

Tips

For an authentic taste, use Goan vinegar and fresh prawns. Balchão can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week, allowing the flavors to develop further.