Shrimp Masala Recipe
- Masala Paste:
- 1 1/2 teaspoons coriander seeds
- Seeds from 1 cardamom pod
- 1/8 teaspoon anise seeds
- 1 whole clove
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 (1/2 inch) piece cinnamon stick, broken
- 1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- Salt
- Shrimp:
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 10 fresh curry leaves
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 1 (1/2 inch) piece ginger, peeled and sliced paper-thin
- 1/2 cup canned whole tomatoes with juice, chopped
- 1 pound large shrimp, shelled and deveined
- Salt
- Make the Masala Paste: In a spice grinder, combine the coriander, cardamom and anise seeds with the clove, crushed red pepper, cinnamon and peppercorns and grind to a fine powder. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in the oil, vinegar, ginger, garlic and turmeric. Season the masala paste with salt.
- Make the Shrimp: In a large skillet, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the curry leaves and cook over moderately high heat until they sizzle, about 10 seconds. Add the garlic, onion and ginger and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and starting to brown, about 10 minutes. Add the masala paste and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juice and cook, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
- Add the shrimp to the skillet in an even layer and season with salt. Simmer, turning once, until just cooked through, about 3 minutes, then serve.