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Trini curry shrimp
Curry shrimp: quick geera and garlic shrimp curry
Sold from food stalls in San Fernando and eaten at south Trinidad family lunches, curry shrimp is the fast curry of the island: the sauce is built in minutes, and the shrimp go in only at the very end. Plenty of garlic, roasted geera and hot pepper give a bright, punchy curry that you wipe up with dhalpuri or spoon over rice. The mistake nearly everyone makes the first time is stewing the shrimp, which turns them rubbery; they need three or four minutes, no more. Chef's tip: save the shells, simmer them in the water for 10 minutes and use that stock in the curry for a much deeper seafood flavour.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ lb raw shrimppeeled and deveined
- 2 tbsp green seasoning
- ¾ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp Trinidad curry powder
- 1 tsp ground roasted cumin
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 6 cloves garliccrushed
- ½ scotch bonnetfinely chopped
- 1 tomatochopped
- ¾ cup water
- 1 tbsp chadon benichopped (or coriander)
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Check 1 ⅓ lb raw shrimp and discard any that smell sour or of ammonia. Toss with 2 tbsp green seasoning and ¾ tsp salt and keep in the fridge while you start the curry, up to 1 hour.
Step 2: Mix 2 tbsp Trinidad curry powder and 1 tsp ground roasted cumin with 4 tablespoons of ¼ cup water into a paste.
Step 3: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a wide pan over a medium heat and fry 1 onion, 6 cloves garlic and ½ scotch bonnet for 2 minutes until fragrant.
2 minStep 4: Add the curry paste and fry, stirring, for 3 minutes until it darkens and the oil separates.
3 minStep 5: Add 1 tomato and the rest of ½ cup water and simmer for 5 minutes, until the tomato breaks down and the sauce thickens slightly.
5 minStep 6: Add the shrimp and cook for 3–4 minutes, turning, until they curl, turn pink and are opaque all the way through. Take off the heat at once, stir in 1 tbsp chadon beni and serve with dhalpuri or rice.
4 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 26 g
- Carbs
- 7 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does trini curry shrimp take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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