Chemmeen aviyal / Prawns and vegetables in coconut sauce

Ingredients (Serves 3 – 4)

1. Prawns –  20 (I used large raw prawns from Costco)

2. Raw banana – 1 small, cut lengthwise

   Cucumber / vellarikka – 1 cup, cut lengthwise

   Drumstick – 1 small, cut into 1.5 inch pieces and slit

   Green chilies – 3, slit

   Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp

   Chilly powder – 1/2 tsp

   Curry leaves – 1 sprig

   Pearl onions – 4, halved

   Salt – To taste

   Water –  Around  1 cup

3. Raw mango – 2 small pieces, peeled and thinly sliced

4. Grated coconut – 1 1/4 cups

    Pearl onions – 3

    Cumin seeds – 1 pinch

5. Coconut oil – 1 – 2 tsp

    Curry leaves – 4

Method

1. Grind grated coconut, pearl onions and cumin seeds to a coarse mixture. Set aside.

2. Combine all the ingredients numbered 2 in a heavy-bottomed vessel. Cover and cook at medium heat for 5 minutes. Then add prawns and raw mango pieces. Again cover and cook for about 8 – 10 minutes stirring once or twice in between. When the prawns and veggies are done, add ground coconut mixture. Cover and cook for 2 – 3 minutes until the raw taste of coconut is gone. Add coconut oil, few curry leaves and switch off. It goes very well with rice.