Prawn mango curry (chemmeen manga curry), a traditional dish from Kerala, has prawns and raw mangoes cooked in creamy coconut sauce. The raw mangoes impart a light tangy flavor to the dish which is absolutely amazing.
This is one dish that's reserved for the season of mangoes, summer. As summer is slowly approaching where I live, mangoes have also started to appear everywhere. Seriously, who doesn't love mangoes? When in season, I really love making curries, smoothies and pickles with them.
This prawn mango curry is one of the classic recipes from Kerala. As you know, most of the traditional curries are well known for their complexity. But this tasty curry is made in less than 20 minutes and
all in one pan.
I started with the good old way of making a good Kerala style curry - heating oil and spluttering mustard seeds. You’ll also need to add fenugreek seeds which add great flavor to the chemmeen manga curry.
Now add onions and fry until they are browned. Next up, fry ginger, garlic, green chilies, and curry leaves. Add fresh coconut slices and fry for a minute or two. I absolutely love the “crunch” it adds to the dish. Although coconut slices are optional in this prawn mango curry, I recommend adding them as they make a world of difference in terms of flavor.
When the coconut slices are lightly browned, fry ground turmeric, ground coriander and red chili powder.
The important ingredient that makes this curry absolutely delicious is mangoes. It makes the curry tangy and irresistible. Add the mangoes to the sauce along with prawns and enough salt. Pour thin coconut milk. Use store bought coconut milk if you like a quick version.
Cover the pan with lid. Cook for 6-7 minutes or until the prawns are cooked through. Avoid overcooking the prawns at any cost, as they’ll turn rubbery and chewy. Just before removing it from flame, stir in thick coconut milk (or use store bought coconut cream) and heat through. Garnish with more curry leaves, if you like.
Enjoy this prawn mango curry (chemmeen manga curry) with rice or roti. I bet this will be one of the best prawn curries you'll ever taste!
Prawn Mango Curry | Chemmeen Manga Curry
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
- ¼ teaspoon fenugreek seeds
- 1 large onion chopped
- 2 cm fresh ginger chopped
- 5-6 garlic cloves chopped
- 1-2 large green chilies cut lengthways
- 2 tablespoon coconut slices
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 cup diced raw mangoes
- 300 g prawns cleaned and deveined
- 1 cup thin coconut milk
- ½ cup thick coconut milk
- Salt to taste
- Water
- 1 sprig of curry leaves
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Splutter mustard and fenugreek seeds. Tip in onion, and sauté for 2-3 minutes or until browned.
- Add ginger, garlic, green chilies and curry leaves. Sauté, stirring, for 1-2 minutes or until aromatic. Add coconut slices, and fry for a minute or two. Stir in ground turmeric, ground coriander and red chili powder. Fry for a minute.
- Add mangoes, prawns and enough salt. Pour thin coconut milk and enough water (I added ½ cup water) to make thick sauce. Cook, covered, for 6-7 minutes or until the prawns are cooked through.
- Stir in thick coconut milk, and cook, covered, for another 2 minutes. Garnish with more curry leaves, if desired.
Nutrition
Like this prawn mango curry recipe? Then why not try these prawn recipes:
kushi says
Lovely color 🙂 plate of steamed rice and I can finish off this one in no time 🙂 YUMMY
amrita says
Thanks for sharing this traditional dish
Traditionallymodernfood says
Looks like a great dish..pics look awesome
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
This curry looks so flavorful and delicious.
Archana says
Just Yummy ? curry. Rice and prawn curry has become my favourite meal. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Michele says
I can only find fenugreek leaves, not seeds. Do I use the same way?
Rose Mary George says
You'll need fenugreek seeds to make this dish which are easily available from Indian grocery stores. 🙂
Michele says
Is there anything else I could substitute the fenugreek seeds with? I'm in Thailand and can't get to an India grocery store easily. I was hoping to make this tonight ?
Michele says
Is there anything else I could substitute the fenugreek seeds with? I'm in Thailand and can't get to an India grocery store easily. I was hoping to make this tonight ?
Rose Mary George says
oh so sorry, fenugreek seeds adds a very subtle flavor to this dish. So you can easily omit it from the recipe and make this dish. Hope that helps!
Nida says
Made this, and it was my first time cooking prawns. Absolutely loved the flavours of the raw mango and the prawn and everything else. Super easy to make too, that is, once you finish cleaning and deveining your prawns.
Make this dish, you won't regret it! :")
Rose Mary George says
Thank you for the lovely feedback!
radhika raj says
I have always loved mango prawn curry and I have tried the recipe from multiple places. This was the best!
Bridget Ross says
Beautiful Recipe easy and quick.