Prawn Curry (Traditional Odiya Style)

Ingredients:

To Marinate:

500 gms prawns
1 large potato
1 tsp salt
1 tsp turmeric powder
1-2 tbsp mustard oil

To prepare gravy:

2 large onion
10-12 garlic flakes
1 1/2 inch ginger
1 inch long cinnamon
2 dry red chilis/ green chilis
2 large tomatoes
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp turmeric powder,
1 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp garam masala
1 tbsp chopped fresh coriander leaves
Salt to taste
4 tbsp oil for gravy preparation
Oil as required for pan frying the prawns
2 cups of boiling water

Method:

1. Clean prawn properly. Drain out water completely.
2. Add salt, turmeric powder and mustard oil. Mix well. Allow to marinate for 15 mins.
3. Cut the large potato in half lengthwise, then cut each half in halves again. 
4. Heat oil in a pan. Fry the marinated prawn in medium flame, till it turns golden brown colour.
5. Fry the potato till they are nearly cooked through. Remove from heat and keep aside.
6. Grind the cumin seeds, 1 inch cinnamon and dry red chillies (if using) into a powder. 
7. Add 1 onion, half of the garlic flakes and 1 inch ginger to the same grinder jar. Grind till the paste is smooth. Keep aside.
8. Finely chop the tomatoes and keep aside.
9. Coarsely grind the remaining onion and keep aside. 
10. Crush together the remaining garlic pod and ginger using a mortar and pestle. Take care not to make a very fine paste.
11. Heat the oil in a wok. Add the sugar and allow it to turn brown. 
12. When the sugar starts fuming, add the onion paste. Saute it for 1-2 minutes.
13. Add the crushed garlic-ginger and saute for 2 minutes.
14. Add the ground masala. Saute for 4-5 minutes till the raw smell goes off.
15. Add tomato and saute till it starts melting. With the help of spatula mash the cooked tomatoes.
16. Add 2 cups of boiling water to the wok. Bring to a boil on high flame.
17. Add fried potatoes and prawns to the wok. Cover with a lid and allow to boil for 7-8 minutes.
18. Check the seasoning and add salt/spices as required.
19. Sprinkle Garam masala to the curry and add coriander leaves. Mix well. Switch off the flame.

Serve hot with white rice.