Churakka – Unakka Chemmeen Curry / Bottle Gourd (Lauki) – Dried Prawn Curry

 

 

Churakka - Unakka Chemmeen Curry / Bottle Gourd - Dried Prawn Curry

 

Ingredients

1. Lauki / bottle gourd – 1 medium-sized

Ginger – 1/2 inch, chopped lengthwise

Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp

Chilly powder – 1/2 tsp

Green chilli – 1 – 2, slit

Curry leaves – 1 sprig

Salt – To taste

2. Grated coconut – 1 cup

Coriander powder – 1.5 tsp

Chilly powder – 1/2 tsp

Pearl onion – 1-2

Curry leaves – 2-3

3. Dried prawns – 1/4 – 1/2 cup or as required to taste

Curry leaves – 1 sprig

4. Tamarind – Goose-berry sized

5. Pearl onions – 5 – 6, sliced

6. Coconut oil – 2 – 3 tsp

7. Salt – To taste

Method

1. Dry roast the dried prawns in a pan until they turn golden brown. Remove head and tail of the dried prawns. Cool down and crush them slightly using your hands.

2. Add some warm water to tamarind and extract its juice.

3. Heat a pan at low heat. Add 1/2 tsp chilly powder, 1.5 tsp coriander powder. Stir for 2-3 seconds (take care not to burn the powders) and add grated coconut, 1-2 pearl onions and 2-3 curry leaves. Stir everything well for a few seconds and switch off when the coconut is just heated through (no need to brown it). Cool and grind to a fine paste.

4. Wash and cut the bottle gourd/ lauki to small cubes (remove the flesh and seeds inside). Cook it covered in a vessel with ginger, green chillies, turmeric powder, chilly powder, curry leaves and salt until done. It would take about 20 – 25 mts to get them cooked at medium heat.

5. When the bottle gourd is cooked, add tamarind juice, few curry leaves and the crushed dried prawns. Adjust the gravy according to your required consistency. Mix well and cook covered for 1 – 2 minutes. Add the ground coconut paste. Heat through. Switch off when it starts boiling. Mix everything well and taste-check for salt.

6. Fry the sliced pearl onions in coconut oil until they turn golden brown. Pour into the curry. Cover with a lid for at least 15 mts before serving.

Tips

Dried prawns can be replaced with fresh prawns. Add the cleaned prawns when the bottle gourd cubes are 3/4th cooked. Cook covered for 8 – 10 minutes or so, depending on the size of the prawns and follow the rest of the recipe .

 

 

 

Churakka - Unakka Chemmeen Curry / Bottle Gourd - Dried Prawn Curry

 

Recipe Courtesy – Preetha Jayesh

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Maya Akhil

Wife, Mother, Blogger and above all, an ardent lover of good food. I cook, serve, and eat with almost the same passion. The divine aroma that fills the kitchen when I cook or bake is simply what keeps me going!

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Maya Akhil

Wife, Mother, Blogger and above all, an ardent lover of good food. I cook, serve, and eat with almost the same passion. The divine aroma that fills the kitchen when I cook or bake is simply what keeps me going!

Every Recipe Since 2010

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