Pan-Seared Goan Prawn Balchão with Tamarind

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A spicy and tangy prawn balchão, quick pan-seared in a robust tamarind and chili masala, perfect as a side or starter. This Indian-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs large prawns, shelled and deveined, tamarind paste, dried red chilies for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 250 calories and feeds 3, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 3 Indian cuisine 250 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Dry roast 5 dried red chilies, 1 tsp mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds, and 1 tbsp coriander seeds over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until fragrant; grind into a fine powder.
  2. Step 2: Mix the ground spice powder with 1 tbsp tamarind paste, 2 tbsp white vinegar, 1 tsp sugar, and salt to taste to form a thick masala paste.
  3. Step 3: Heat 4 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add 5 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Step 4: Add the prepared masala paste to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly, until oil separates from the masala.
  5. Step 5: Add 400 g shelled and deveined large prawns, toss well to coat, and cook for 5-6 minutes until prawns turn pink and are cooked through.
  6. Step 6: Taste and adjust salt or sugar if needed, then remove from heat and serve immediately with plain white rice or bread.

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