Tamarind Shrimp With Coconut Milk Food

TAMARIND SHRIMP WITH COCONUT MILK

Steps:

• Combine masala, salt and tamarind paste in a medium bowl. Add shrimp and toss them with the mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours. Do not overmarinate, as the acidic tamarind will make the shrimp rubbery after 2 hours' contact.
• Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high. Add shrimp in a single layer. Reserve any excess marinade. Sear the shrimp for 30 seconds to 1 minute per side.
• Pour coconut milk and any residual marinade over shrimp, add curry leaves and stir once or twice. Cook curry uncovered, stirring occasionally, until shrimp are salmon-orange and curled but still tender and the sauce is slightly thick, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve immediately.

SHRIMP AND CHAYOTE IN A COCONUT-TAMARIND SAUCE

Steps:

• Put the coriander seeds and peppercorns into a small, cast-iron frying pan and set over medium heat. Stir the spices until they emit a roasted aroma and turn half a shade darker. Empty into a clean coffee-grinder or other spice grinder and grind as finely as possible. Put in a bowl. Add all the remaining ingredients for the sauce and mix well with a small whisk.
• Just before eating, put the oil in a large, preferably non-stick saute pan and set over medium-high heat. When very hot, put in the mustard seeds. As soon as the seeds begin to pop (a matter of seconds), put in the shallots. Stir and fry for 30 seconds. Put in the garlic and ginger and continue to stir and fry for 30 seconds or until the shallots have browned a bit. Put in the shrimp and stir a few times. Add the chayote. Continue to stir and cook for a minute. Sprinkle lightly with a little salt, pepper and cayenne. Stir to mix. Add the coconut milk mixture and turn the heat down to medium low. Stir and allow the shrimp and chayote to cook through gently. As soon as the shrimp are opaque, stir in the basil and serve.

KERALA SHRIMP CURRY

Steps:

• Rinse shrimp. Place in a medium bowl, add turmeric, chili power, salt and lime juice; stir well and set aside to marinate.
• Meanwhile, chope tamarind pulp coarsely and place in a bowl. Pour in boiling water and mash tamarind a little with a fork. Set aside to soak for about 10 minutes.
• In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan or wok, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until a pale golden colour - about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Increase heat to medium-high. Add mustard seeds (they may pop or sputter) and cook for 30 seconds. Add funugreek seeds and tomatoes and stir well. Add garlic, ginger, green chiles, curry leaves, turmeric, coriander and red chile powder. Cook, stirring for 1 to 2 minutes, then add coconut milk and a pinch of salt. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile strain tamarind mixture through a sieve into a clean bowl. Using a wooden spoon, press tamarind pulp against mesh of sieve to extract as much liquid as possible. Set aside liquid and discard pulp.
• Stir 3 T of the tamarind liquid into simmering curry. Taste, and then adjust the balance of flavours if you wish by adding more tamarind liquid and/or salt.
• Shortly before you wish to serve, add shrimp and any remaining marinade to curry and cook until shrimp has just changed colour, about 3 minutes.
• Garnish with chopped coriander and serve with plain rice and lime wedges.

COCONUT SHRIMP WITH TAMARIND GINGER SAUCE

Steps:

• Make sauce:
• Whisk tamarind concentrate into lime juice in a small bowl until dissolved. Stir in remaining sauce ingredients and chill, covered.
• Prepare shrimp:
• Coarsely chop coconut and transfer half to a shallow soup bowl or pie plate.
• Whisk together flour, beer, baking soda, salt, cayenne, and egg in a small bowl until smooth.
• Heat oil in a 4- to 6-quart deep heavy pot over moderately high heat until it registers 350°F on thermometer.
• While oil is heating, coat shrimp:
• Hold 1 shrimp by tail and dip into batter, letting excess drip off, then dredge in coconut, coating completely and pressing gently to help adhere. Transfer to a plate and coat remaining shrimp in same manner, adding remaining coconut to bowl as needed.
• Fry shrimp in oil in batches of 8, turning once, until golden, about 1 minute. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain and season lightly with salt. Skim any coconut from oil and return oil to 350°F between batches.
• Serve shrimp with sauce.
• Available at Latino and Indian restaurants and at Kalustyan's (212-685-3451).