Easy Coconut Prawn Curry Recipe: A Tropical Dinner Delight

Coconut prawn curry blends tropical flavors with rich, creamy textures that dance across your palate.

Seafood lovers appreciate this vibrant dish for its complex spice profiles and delightful coastal influences.

The recipe crafts simple ingredients into an extraordinary meal that feels like a culinary adventure.

Each ingredient contributes a unique character, creating harmonious layers of taste and aroma.

Regional cooking techniques elevate these prawns from mundane to magnificent, highlighting subtle nuances of marine and coconut essences.

Fragrant spices weave through the creamy sauce, promising a sensory experience that transports you to seaside destinations.

Prepare to embark on a gastronomic journey that celebrates maritime cuisine with bold, unexpected combinations.

Why Coconut Prawn Curry is a Creamy, Comforting Favorite

• Burst with Tropical Spice Explosion: This curry delivers a vibrant blend of aromatic spices like ginger, curry leaves, and green chilies that dance on your taste buds with authentic South Asian flavors.
• Quick and Easy Weeknight Wonder: Prepared in just 15 minutes, this prawn curry offers a restaurant-quality meal without complicated techniques, perfect for busy home cooks seeking delicious dinner solutions.
• Creamy Coconut Comfort: Luxurious coconut milk creates a silky, rich sauce that perfectly balances the heat of chilies and provides a smooth, comforting texture that wraps around succulent prawns.
• Nutritious Protein-Packed Delight: Prawns offer lean protein while spices like turmeric provide anti-inflammatory benefits, making this dish not just tasty but also a wholesome meal option for health-conscious food lovers.

Ingredients That Give Coconut Prawn Curry Its Kick

• Garlic: Provides a strong, pungent base flavor for the curry.
• Ginger: Adds warmth and depth to the dish with its spicy-sweet notes.
• Curry Leaves: Authentic Indian herb that brings a distinctive aromatic quality.
• Green Chilies: Fresh peppers that add heat and vibrant flavor.
• Dried Red Chili: Adds intense heat and rich color to the curry.
• Turmeric: Earthy spice with golden color and subtle warmth.

• Tomatoes, Chopped: Fresh vegetables that create a rich, tangy sauce base.
• Tomato Puree: Smooth sauce that enhances the curry's depth and consistency.
• Salt: Essential seasoning that balances and enhances other flavors.
• Coconut Milk: Creamy liquid that provides a smooth, rich texture.

• Prawns: Tender seafood that cooks quickly and absorbs the curry's flavors.
• Fresh Coriander: Bright herb that adds freshness and color to the finished dish.
• Cooking Oil: Neutral fat used for sautéing and building the curry's foundation.

Cooking Steps for a Rich and Creamy Coconut Prawn Curry

Step 1: Prepare Aromatic Base

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat
• Add finely minced garlic, grated ginger, and fresh curry leaves
• Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and golden

Step 2: Build Flavor Layer

• Toss in chopped green chilies
• Sprinkle turmeric powder
• Add diced tomatoes and dried red chili
• Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously

Step 3: Create Creamy Sauce

• Pour in tomato puree
• Sprinkle salt to taste
• Simmer for 1-2 minutes
• Slowly stir in rich coconut milk
• Let sauce develop deep flavors

Step 4: Cook Succulent Prawns

• Gently add fresh prawns to the simmering sauce
• Cook for 3-4 minutes until prawns turn pink
• Ensure prawns are just cooked through

Step 5: Finish With Fresh Herbs

• Remove skillet from heat
• Sprinkle generously with freshly chopped coriander
• Stir to distribute herbs evenly

Step 6: Serve And Enjoy

• Plate hot over steamed rice
• Alternatively, serve as a standalone dish
• Garnish with extra coriander if desired

Tips for Balancing Heat and Sweetness in Coconut Prawn Curry

• Select Fresh Prawns: Choose plump, firm prawns with a sweet ocean smell for the best flavor and texture in your curry.
• Control Spice Levels: Adjust green and dried chilies to match your heat preference, removing seeds for milder results.
• Prevent Overcooking Seafood: Watch prawns closely and remove from heat immediately when they turn pink to keep them tender and juicy.
• Toast Spices Carefully: Briefly sauté curry leaves, ginger, and garlic until fragrant to unlock deeper, richer aromatic notes.
• Enhance Coconut Richness: Use full-fat coconut milk for a creamy, luxurious curry sauce that coats prawns beautifully.

How to Reheat Coconut Prawn Curry Without Overcooking

• Refrigeration: Transfer leftover curry to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Cool the dish completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth and maintain optimal flavor.
• Freezing: Carefully pour the curry into freezer-safe containers, leaving some space for expansion. Freeze for maximum 1 month. Separate the prawns from sauce if possible to prevent texture degradation.
• Reheating: Thaw frozen curry overnight in the refrigerator. Warm gently in a pan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Add a splash of water or coconut milk to restore moisture and prevent the prawns from becoming tough. Ensure the curry reaches 165°F before serving to guarantee food safety.

Best Sides to Enjoy with Coconut Prawn Curry

• Pair with Crisp Riesling: A slightly sweet Riesling cuts through the curry's spiciness, balancing the heat with its fruity notes while complementing the coconut's creamy texture.
• Serve with Jasmine Rice: Fluffy jasmine rice absorbs the rich curry sauce perfectly, providing a neutral base that highlights the prawns' delicate flavor and the dish's complex spices.
• Match with Cucumber Raita: Cool, tangy cucumber raita offers a refreshing counterpoint to the curry's warmth, soothing the palate and adding a creamy contrast to the spicy prawns.
• Complement with Crisp Green Salad: A light, zesty salad with lime vinaigrette brings freshness to the rich curry, cutting through the coconut milk's intensity and providing a clean, bright accompaniment.

Flavor Twists for a New Spin on Coconut Prawn Curry

• Thai Fusion Delight: Replace green chilies with red bell peppers for a milder flavor, and add lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves for an authentic Thai coconut curry experience.
• Spicy Seafood Medley: Mix prawns with calamari and mussels to create a rich, varied seafood curry that offers multiple textures and depths of flavor.
• Vegetarian Sea Alternative: Swap prawns with firm tofu or roasted cauliflower florets, maintaining the creamy coconut base while creating a plant-based version of the original recipe that's equally satisfying and protein-packed.
• Mango Tropical Blend: Incorporate diced ripe mango during the final cooking stage to introduce a sweet, tangy element that complements the savory curry and adds a refreshing tropical dimension.

Coconut Prawn Curry Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 20 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Fragrant coconut prawn curry brings tropical Malaysian flavors to your kitchen with luxurious, creamy spices that dance across tender shrimp. Silky sauce and perfectly balanced heat welcome diners into a delicious culinary journey through Southeast Asian cuisine.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Proteins:

• 1.5 pounds (680 grams) prawns, peeled and deveined

Spices and Aromatics:

• 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 4 curry leaves
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• 1 dried red chili, chopped
• Salt, to taste

Liquid and Supplementary Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or coconut oil
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• ¼ cup tomato puree
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped coriander

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Warm a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat, pouring in vegetable oil (30 milliliters or ) to create an even coating.
2. Introduce minced garlic cloves, freshly grated ginger, and aromatic curry leaves to the heated oil, allowing them to sizzle and release their fragrant essence for approximately 1-2 minutes.
3. Incorporate finely chopped green chilies, ground turmeric, diced fresh tomatoes, and crumbled dried red chili into the pan, stirring continuously to blend the vibrant spices and prevent burning.
4. Pour in rich tomato puree and sprinkle sea salt, mixing thoroughly and allowing the mixture to simmer and develop deeper flavors for 1-2 minutes.
5. Gently stream smooth coconut milk into the spice base, creating a luscious, creamy sauce that will envelop the seafood.
6. Add fresh, raw prawns (or shrimp) to the simmering curry, cooking them until they transform from translucent to a delicate pink color, which typically takes 3-4 minutes.
7. Remove the skillet from direct heat and garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves, which will introduce a bright, herbaceous note to the dish.
8. Serve the aromatic coconut prawn curry immediately, accompanied by steamed basmati rice or enjoyed independently as a standalone meal.

Notes

• Marinate prawns briefly with salt for enhanced flavor and tender texture before cooking.
• Choose fresh, high-quality prawns with firm, translucent appearance for best results.
• Toast whole spices beforehand to release deeper, more complex aromatics in the curry.
• Use full-fat coconut milk for richer, creamier sauce that coats prawns beautifully.
• Control spice levels by adjusting green and red chili quantities to suit personal preference.
• Garnish with extra fresh coriander and a squeeze of lime for bright, zesty finish.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Indian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 320 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 480 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 14 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 8 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 220 mg