Meals Recipes Ingredients Cuisines Diets Health Goals Articles

Recipes

Popular Recipes
Quick Recipes
Healthy Recipes
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
All Recipes

Cuisines

Indian
Italian
Mexican
Chinese
Thai
Mediterranean
All Cuisines

Diets

Vegetarian
Vegan
Keto
Paleo
Gluten-Free
Dairy-Free
All Diets

Resources

Meal Planner
Articles
Nutrition Guide
Cooking Tips
Health Goals
Ingredients

Mobile App Coming Soon

We are coming with our mobile apps to help you plan your meals. Sign up to get early access.

About Us|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|Contact|Sitemap

X IG P YT

Prawn Thokku Recipe | CraftMyMeals | CraftMyMeals

Home
Recipes
Prawn Thokku

chettinadmediumnon-vegetariangluten-freedairy-freenut-free

soy-free

low-carb

high-protein

Prawn Thokku

Name: Prawn Thokku
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings (1 cup each)
Cuisine: chettinad
Ingredients: 500 g prawns (cleaned and deveined); 2 pcs onion (large, finely chopped); 3 pcs tomatoes (medium, finely chopped); 3 tbsp gingelly oil (or any vegetable oil); 1.5 tbsp ginger garlic paste; 3 pcs green chillies (slit lengthwise); 1 tsp mustard seeds; 1 tsp fennel seeds; 12 pcs curry leaves (from one sprig); 0.5 tsp turmeric powder; 1.5 tsp kashmiri red chilli powder (adjust to your spice level); 2 tsp coriander powder; 1 tsp cumin powder; 1 tsp garam masala; 1 tsp tamarind paste (mixed in 2 tbsp water); 1.5 tsp salt; 2 tbsp coriander leaves (chopped, for garnish)

Popularity

3.0

Taste Score:9/10

Succulent prawns cooked in a thick, spicy, and tangy onion-tomato masala. This Chettinad classic is a flavor explosion, perfect with rice, dosa, or chapati for a quick and delicious meal.

Prep15m

Cook25m

Servings4

Serving:1 cup

290 cal

Ingredients

For 4 servings

500 g prawns (cleaned and deveined)
2 pcs onion (large, finely chopped)
3 pcs tomatoes (medium, finely chopped)
3 tbsp gingelly oil (or any vegetable oil)
1.5 tbsp ginger garlic paste
3 pcs green chillies (slit lengthwise)
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp fennel seeds
12 pcs curry leaves (from one sprig)
0.5 tsp turmeric powder
1.5 tsp kashmiri red chilli powder (adjust to your spice level)
2 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp tamarind paste (mixed in 2 tbsp water)
1.5 tsp salt
2 tbsp coriander leaves (chopped, for garnish)

Nutrition per Serving

290

Calories

29g

Protein

16g

Carbs

Instructions

1
Prepare the prawns
- If not already done, clean and devein the prawns.
- In a bowl, marinate the prawns with 1/4 tsp turmeric powder and 1/2 tsp salt. Set aside for 15 minutes.
2
Make the tempering
- Heat oil in a wide pan or kadai over medium heat.
- Add the mustard seeds and let them splutter, about 30 seconds.
- Add the fennel seeds and curry leaves. Sauté for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
3
Sauté the aromatics
- Add the finely chopped onions and sauté until they turn soft and golden brown, which should take about 6-8 minutes.
- Add the ginger-garlic paste and slit green chillies. Cook for 2 minutes until the raw smell disappears.
4
Cook the masala base

Similar Recipes You Might Like

View all recipes

medium

non-vegetariangluten-free

chettinad

Mutton Teevan

A rich and aromatic mutton curry from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu. Tender mutton pieces are simmered in a fragrant gravy made from freshly roasted spices and coconut, creating a deeply flavorful dish.

Chettinad Vegetable Sevai

Aromatic and spicy rice vermicelli tossed with mixed vegetables and a classic Chettinad spice blend. This South Indian tiffin is a flavorful and satisfying meal, perfect for breakfast or a light lunch.

non-vegetariangluten-free

chettinad

Chicken Chettinad Masala

A fiery and aromatic chicken curry from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu. Tender chicken is cooked in a flavorful gravy made with freshly roasted spices, coconut, and a hint of tanginess. A true classic for spice lovers.

non-vegetariangluten-free

chettinad

Chettinad Chicken Salna

A fragrant and spicy chicken curry from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu. This thin, flavorful gravy, known as salna, is packed with freshly ground spices and is the perfect side for parottas, idiyappam, or dosas.

55 min

395cal

38gprotein

About This Prawn Thokku Recipe

Succulent prawns cooked in a thick, spicy, and tangy onion-tomato masala. This Chettinad classic is a flavor explosion, perfect with rice, dosa, or chapati for a quick and delicious meal.

This chettinad recipe takes 40 minutes to prepare and yields 4 servings. At 290.47 calories per serving with 28.91g of protein, it's a moderately challenging recipe perfect for lunch or dinner.

13g

Fat

Fiber4g

Sodium1058mg

Potassium780mg

Phosphorus368mg

Know more about our calculations

Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until they become soft and mushy, and you see oil separating from the sides of the masala, about 5-7 minutes.

Add the remaining turmeric powder, Kashmiri red chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, and the rest of the salt. Mix well and cook for 2 minutes.

Cook the prawns

Add the marinated prawns to the pan. Mix gently to coat them with the masala.
Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the prawns curl up and turn opaque pink. Be careful not to overcook them.

Finish the thokku

Pour in the tamarind water and add the garam masala. Mix well.
Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the masala thickens to a semi-dry consistency and coats the prawns well.
Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves and turn off the heat.

Serve hot with steamed rice, chapati, or dosa.

Pro Tips

1Do not overcook the prawns, as they will become tough and rubbery. 5-7 minutes is usually enough.
2For an authentic Chettinad flavor, use gingelly (sesame) oil.
3Finely chopping the onions and tomatoes helps create a thick, cohesive masala that coats the prawns well.
4If you don't have tamarind paste, you can substitute with 1 tbsp of lemon juice added at the very end.
5For a deeper red color without too much heat, use only Kashmiri red chilli powder.

Recipe Variations

healthy

Healthy

Reduce the oil to 1.5 tbsp and use a non-stick pan. You can also increase the amount of tomatoes for a richer base without extra oil.

quick

Quick

Use canned chopped tomatoes or tomato puree instead of fresh tomatoes to significantly reduce the masala cooking time.

kid friendly

Kid friendly

Omit the green chillies and reduce the red chilli powder to 1/2 tsp to make the dish milder for children.

high protein

High protein

To increase the protein content, you can add a handful of roasted peanuts or cashews along with the masala powders.