Bendem is okra/lady’s finger, sungtam is prawns/shrimps and kodi is curry in the Konkani language. This is a simple, delicious and mildly spiced curry, consisting of fresh coconut and aromatic spices, well balanced with the sourness from the tamarind. The addition of okra not only adds a textural element to this dish but also adds an amazing subtle flavor that cannot be missed! And the shrimps, so juicy and succulent, after absorbing all those beautiful aromatics! Simply yummmm! If you love okra, then do try out this simple and quick recipe! It’s best paired with Goan red boiled rice, which is supposed to be healthier than the normal white rice, as the red rice is not processed, keeping all the nutrients intact. However, regular rice and bread are great accompaniments too!
I love having this curry along with some hot, steamed rice, a piece of semolina coated, fried pomfret/ king fish/ mackeral and a simple stir-fry veggie. This curry taste even better the next day as the flavors deepen. People often have it for breakfast with some ‘pao’ (bread)! The recipe below is the way my mum in law makes it with minimal spices, yet absolutely no compromise in the flavors! My mum makes a slightly different version which I will be sharing in the coming months too 🙂
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE GOAN PRAWN CURRY WITH LADY’S FINGER
INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup freshly grated coconut 2-3 Kashmiri chillies/1 teaspoon Kashmiri chilly powder 1 tablespoon coriander seeds 1 big garlic clove/ 2-3 medium garlic cloves A small ball of tamarind 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder 8-10 large shrimps, cleaned and deveined, you can add more 100 gms/ 4 oz okra 1/4 cup of coconut milk 1 tablespoon coconut oil/ vegetable oil 1/2 cup finely chopped onions salt to taste pinch of sugar DIRECTIONS 1.Apply salt to cleaned and deveined shrimp , and set aside for 15 minutes. 2.Wash the okra well, wipe it dry with a clean napkin, trim the edges cut into 1 to 1 & 1/2 inch pieces and set aside.
4.Heat oil in a thick bottomed pan, add onions and saute on medium heat until translucent.
5.Add the ground masala paste and saute until the masala starts bubbling and oozing out oil.
6.Rinse the grinder jar with water (about 1/2 cup). Add this to the above mixture, add another cup of water or adjust as per desired consistency of the curry. Let everything come to a boil.
7.Add the cut okra pieces and cook for another 10 minutes on medium low heat or until okra is tender.
8.Add the marinated shrimps and cook until they are done, about 5 minutes. Check for seasoning, since we already added salt to the prawns, if required add more salt, a pinch of sugar to balance out everything.
9.Add coconut milk and let the gravy come to a boil. Done. Serve with steamed rice.
NOTES: 1.Post updated with new images. 2.You can skip the coconut milk, and increase more of the freshly grated coconut. 3.When I first published this post, I had mentioned sautéing the shrimps after sautéing the onions. However, I’ve changed that step and added the shrimps towards the end just after the okra is almost done. I prefer the shrimps to be just about done, hence added it last. If you prefer to fry it along with the onions, you may do so.
HOW TO MAKE GOAN PRAWN CURRY WITH OKRA?
I would love to hear from you, please feel free to share your feedback with photos and suggestions to me at [email protected] You can also follow me on : Facebook Pinterest Instagram Twitter Regards, Freda
