Goan Prawn Balchão Pickle with Red Chili and Vinegar

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-14 · Updated 2026-05-14

A spicy and tangy Goan prawn pickle cooked with red chilies, vinegar, and aromatic spices, perfect as a flavorful condiment or side. This Indian seafood recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs small prawns, cleaned and deveined, dried red chilies, and white vinegar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Build a week of meals around this recipe" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 400 g small prawns, cleaned and deveined
• 8 dried red chilies
• 4 tbsp white vinegar
• 5 garlic cloves
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 3 cloves
• 1 small (2-inch) cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 5 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 small (100 g) onion, finely chopped

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Dry roast 8 dried red chilies, 1 tsp mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 3 cloves, and 1 small cinnamon stick in a skillet over medium heat for 3 minutes until fragrant. Cool and grind with 5 garlic cloves and 4 tbsp white vinegar to a smooth paste.
2. Step 2: Heat 5 tbsp vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Add 1 small finely chopped onion and sauté for 4-5 minutes until translucent.
3. Step 3: Add the prepared chili paste to the pan and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently until the oil begins to separate and the mixture darkens.
4. Step 4: Add 400 g cleaned prawns, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tsp sugar. Stir well to coat the prawns.
5. Step 5: Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 8-10 minutes until prawns turn pink and are cooked through.
6. Step 6: Remove from heat and let the pickle cool before serving as a spicy condiment with rice or bread.