Easy Prawn Pulao Recipe has loads of flavours and makes an excellent weekday meal with very few spices. This Prawn Pulao or Shrimp Pulao Recipe uses only a few ingredients and yet turns out so fragrant and delicious.
If you have prawns at home and wondering what to cook in a hurry then this delicious Prawn Pulao Recipe is just for you. The recipe is not only easy but also quick to make. All you have to do is get all the ingredients ready and churn out this easy-to-cook and delicious meal for your loved ones.
This Prawn Pulao has subtle flavours that basically come from fresh prawns, tomatoes, and crushed peppercorns. I only add 2 green chillies and a little red chilli powder keeping the pulao mildly spiced. But if you like it to be spicy then you must try out my other Prawn Pulao.
This Easy Prawn Pulao Recipe makes a great one-pot dish. Here we allow the prawns to cook with the rice along with some basic spices. The rice absorbs all the flavours of the prawns making the pulao fragrant and delicious. This recipe is a regular affair at home and being a one-pot dish I end up with fewer utensils to wash.
To sum it up, the Prawn Pulao is –
- Delicious
- Easy to Cook
- Mildly spiced
- Flavourful
- One-pot meal
Table of Contents
Ingredients for Easy Prawn Pulao Recipe
- Prawns/Shrimps. Any shrimp or prawns will work well for this Prawn Pulao Recipe. But I prefer to use sea prawns as they are more flavourful. Frozen shrimps work just as fine.
- Rice. Though I like to use basmati rice for my pulao recipes any short-grain rice is also fine. Use good quality flavourful rice for this prawn pulao.
- Onion & Tomatoes. I used one sliced onion and two tomatoes for this recipe. You can finely chop the tomatoes or also puree them. The key to adding tomatoes is for the pulao to get a slight tang and flavour.
- Whole spices. We use very minimum spices for this prawn pulao recipe. Bay leaves, cardamom, cloves, and a few crushed peppercorns, that’s it. Don’t forget to crush the peppercorns – this will make the rice flavourful.
- Powdered spices. I use very few powder spices in this recipe so that they do not overpower the flavour of the prawns. Adding a dash of chilli powder and turmeric powder will give the prawn pulao a wonderful orange-red colour making it appetizing.
- Ginger-garlic and Green Chillies. Only add a small quantity of ginger garlic paste or else it will overpower the flavours. Besides that add slit green chillies to suit your spice level
- Oil/Ghee. Use can only oil or only ghee or a combination of both oil and ghee for making this easy Prawn Pulao Recipe.
How to Make Prawn Pulao Recipe
Begin by first marinating 12 to 15 medium size prawns with salt and turmeric. Set this aside for at least 10 minutes. Take care to nicely wash and devein the prawns before marinating them.
Wash and soak 1 cup of basmati rice for at least 15 to 20 minutes. If you are using rice like kolam or any other flavourful rice then you may not need to soak it.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in the vessel in which you would be making the prawn pulao. Add the marinated prawns and sear them for 2 to 3 minutes and remove.
In the same vessel, heat 1 tbsp ghee and 1 tbsp oil. Once the oil/ghee is hot, add 4 cloves, 2 bay leaves, 3 whole green cardamoms, and 1 tsp of crushed peppercorns. Let them crackle for a few seconds.
Now, add 01 medium-sized sliced onion and fry on medium-high heat until it turns translucent. Add 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste and give it a stir. Add the finely chopped tomatoes and fry for 3 to 4 minutes until the tomatoes are soft.
Next, add 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp red chili powder, 1 tsp garam masala powder, and 3/4 tsp salt and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Finally, add the seared prawns and the soaked basmati rice and give it a good mix. Add 2 cups of hot water and allow the rice to cook on a high flame till all the water is absorbed. Now cover the vessel with a tight-fitting lid and cook the pulao for 6 to 7 minutes.
After 6 to 7 minutes turn off the flame and let the prawn pulao rest undisturbed for at least 10 minutes. Then open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork and serve hot.
Watch the Prawn Pulao Recipe Video
Variations to the Prawn Pulao
This Easy Prawn Pulao is tasty on its own, but if you like to experiment and try variations, here are a few suggestions –
- Substitute one cup of water with coconut milk for a delicious and creamy texture.
- Garnish with a lot of mint leaves.
- Add vegetables such as carrots and green peas to make a wholesome meal.
- Use stock instead of water or add a stock cube for more flavour. You can add a teaspoon of Aromat powder too.
- Increase the quantity of red chilli powder for a spicier pulao.
What to Serve with Pulao
You can serve Prawn Pulao on its own as a main course meal with some green salad. You could also serve it along with some fried fish.
Serve it with a side of some homemade pickle and crunchy papad.
Other Prawn Recipes You May Like To Try
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Printable Recipe
EASY PRAWN PULAO RECIPE
Ingredients
- 12 to 15 medium Prawns, shelled and deveined
- 1 cup Basmati Rice
- 1 medium Onion sliced
- 3 Green chilllies, slit
- 2 medium Tomatoes finely chopped
- Whole spices (2 bay leaves, 4 cloves, 3 cardamom & 1 tsp crushed peppercorns)
- 1 tsp Ginger-garlic paste
- ½ tsp Turmeric powder
- ½ tsp Red Chilli powder
- 1 tsp Garam Masala Powder
- 1 tsp Stock powder (optional)
- 2 tbsp Oil
- 1 tbsp Ghee
- 2 cups Hot water
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Marinate prawns with salt and Turmeric powder. Wash and soak 1 cup basmati rice for about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in the vessel in which you would be making the prawn pulao. Add the marinated prawns and sear them for 2 to 3 minutes and remove.
- In the same vessel, heat 1 tbsp ghee and 1 tbsp oil. Once the oil/ghee is hot, add 4 cloves, 2 bay leaves, 3 whole green cardamoms, and 1 tsp of crushed peppercorns. Let them crackle for a few seconds.
- Now, add 01 medium sliced onion & 3 green chillies slit and fry on medium-high heat until onions turns translucent. Add 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste and give it a stir.
- Add the finely chopped tomatoes and fry for 3 to 4 minutes until the tomatoes are soft.
- Then add ½ tsp turmeric powder, ½ tsp red chili powder, 1 tsp garam masala powder, and 3/4 tsp salt and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Finally, add the seared prawns and the soaked rice and give it a good mix. Add 2 cups of hot water and allow the rice to cook on a high flame till all the water dries up. Now cover the vessel with a tight-fitting lid and cook the pulao for 6 to 7 minutes.
- After 7 minutes switch off the flame and let the prawn pulao rest for at least 10 minutes. Then open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork and serve hot.
- Serve Prawn Pulao as a main course with some salad or Raita.
Notes
- I have used a teaspoon of stock powder/Aromat powder for added flavour. This is optional but gives a wonderful flavour to the pulao.
- You can increase or reduce the number of prawns, as desired
- Adjust spices as per your taste.
Thanks for stopping by….
Love, Anita