Description
Mouthwatering coconut shrimp curry brings tropical Kerala flavors to dinner tables with incredible depth. Creamy coconut milk, succulent shrimp, and aromatic spices create a memorable meal you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 (14 oz / 400 milliliters) can full-fat coconut milk
- 1 (14.5 oz / 411 grams) can diced tomatoes
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-inch piece ginger, grated
- 1 small bell pepper, sliced
- 1 cup baby spinach or kale
- ½ cup frozen peas
- 1 tbsp coconut oil (or olive oil)
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (or chili powder for heat)
- 1 tsp garam masala (optional, for extra depth)
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- Juice of ½ lime (for brightness)
- 2 tbsps fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Sauté Base: Heat coconut oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature, then gently cook onions until translucent, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Aromatic Foundation: Add minced garlic and ginger, quickly introducing ground spices (turmeric, cumin, coriander, paprika, garam masala) to create a fragrant flavor profile.
- Develop Sauce: Incorporate tomato paste, diced tomatoes, salt, and black pepper, allowing the mixture to simmer and reduce for 5-6 minutes while developing rich, concentrated flavors.
- Create Creamy Texture: Pour coconut milk into the skillet, stirring to blend ingredients smoothly and create a luxurious curry sauce, simmering for an additional 6-7 minutes.
- Cook Protein: Gently nestle raw shrimp into the simmering sauce, cooking until they turn pink and become tender, approximately 5 minutes.
- Final Touches: Brighten the curry with fresh lime juice, adjust seasonings to taste, and garnish with vibrant cilantro leaves before serving over steamed rice or alongside warm naan bread.
Notes
- Manage Heat Carefully: Keep skillet at medium temperature to prevent burning spices and achieve perfect flavor development without scorching ingredients.
- Optimize Shrimp Cooking: Remove shrimp immediately once they turn pink and opaque to prevent rubbery texture, ensuring tender and succulent seafood.
- Enhance Spice Depth: Toast ground spices briefly before adding liquids to unlock deeper, more complex flavor profiles and reduce raw spice bitterness.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Substitute shrimp with tofu or chickpeas for vegetarian version, use low-fat coconut milk for lighter option, and select gluten-free ingredients for sensitive diets.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 200 mg