Authentic Prawn Mappas Recipe for a Flavorful South Indian Feast

Prawn Mappas is a delicious Kerala-style prawn curry that combines the richness of coconut milk with aromatic spices, creating a flavorful dish that’s both comforting and easy to prepare. This South Indian favorite is infused with the signature flavors of curry leaves, mustard seeds, and coconut oil, making it a true delight for seafood lovers.

Traditionally served with appam, this dish also pairs beautifully with rice or chapati, offering a wholesome and satisfying meal. Plus, since prawns cook quickly, you can have this dish ready in under 15 minutes!

Ingredients

• 800g prawns (cleaned)

• 1 ½ cups coconut milk (divided into 3 portions)

• 200g onions (sliced)

• 150g tomatoes (chopped)

• 10g ginger (crushed)

• 10g garlic (crushed)

• 10g peppercorns (crushed)

• 10g green chillies (sliced)

• 15g coriander powder

• 10g red chilli powder

• 6g turmeric powder

• 20g garam masala powder

• 4g mustard seeds

• 3g fenugreek seeds

• 5g curry leaves

• 6 tbsp coconut oil

• Salt to taste

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the spice mix
Crush the ginger, garlic, and peppercorns. In a separate bowl, mix red chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala, and turmeric powder with ½ cup coconut milk to form a smooth paste. Set aside.

Step 2: Sauté the aromatics
Heat coconut oil in a pan over medium heat. Add mustard seeds and let them crackle. Then, toss in curry leaves, green chillies, fenugreek seeds, onions, and the crushed ginger-garlic-peppercorn mixture. Sauté for about 2 minutes until fragrant.

Step 3: Build the curry base
Stir in the spice paste and mix well. Add another ½ cup coconut milk, followed by the cleaned prawns, salt, and tomatoes.

Step 4: Cook the prawns
Cover the pan and let it simmer for 5-6 minutes until the prawns are fully cooked. Once done, pour in the remaining ½ cup coconut milk, swirl it around, and let it cook on low flame for 2 minutes. Do not let the coconut milk boil, as this may affect the texture of the curry.

Step 5: Serve and enjoy
Garnish with fresh curry leaves and serve hot with appam, rice, or chapati.

Tips for the Perfect Prawn Mappas

• Use fresh prawns for the best flavor, but if using frozen prawns, thaw them completely before cooking.

• Adjust the spice level by adding or reducing green chillies and red chilli powder.

• For a thicker curry, let the sauce simmer slightly longer before adding the final portion of coconut milk.

Prawn Mappas is a beautiful example of Kerala’s rich culinary tradition, blending coastal flavors with aromatic spices. Give it a try and enjoy a taste of South India from the comfort of your home!

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