Prawns Balchao

Note: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Prawns Balchao is a fiery dish that finds its origins in Goa. Prawns are stir-fried first and then added to a pickled curry sauce to create a dish that makes your taste buds tingle and leaves you asking for more.

Prawns balchao served in a black bowl alongside rice
Prawns Balchao

What does balchao mean?

Balchao refers to the method of cooking where the seafood is pickled in a spicy and tangy tomato-vinegar-based sauce.

I first had the opportunity to taste lobster balchao almost a decade ago in an Indian restaurant in Orlando. Here’s the thing with balchaos; they are highly addictive – if you eat it once, you’ll keep coming back for more.

When I came back home from Orlando, I couldn’t wait to make this curry at home.  My husband happily got the ingredients needed, but when I made it, the Lobster Balchao was nowhere close to the one we had at Dakshin. Ugh!

Save the recipe form

💌  Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email below, and we will send it straight to your inbox. As a bonus, you'll receive recipe ideas every week!

Over the years, I kept experimenting with this recipe using Shrimp or Prawns instead of Lobster (they are so expensive!) without much success. Finally, I figured out that I never used the required quantity of vinegar for this recipe, which was 1/2 a cup. We don’t normally use vinegar while cooking, hence the hesitation.

But how can you make pickled prawns without vinegar, right? Once the realization dawned, the recipe was easy to nail!

Prawns balchao served with rice and fried fish
Prawns balchao

Recipe variation – Don’t let the masala-making process dissuade you from making this awesome dish! You can easily substitute the chilies with chili powder and the remaining spices with garam masala, but I would have to say making fresh masalas at home does lend a slightly superior taste to the dish. Also, ideally, this dish is made from coconut toddy vinegar, but since I didn’t have it, I substituted it with vinegar.

Recipe source – I researched a lot of recipes for Prawns Balchao on the internet before I came up with this version. I mostly read the recipes to find out what are the key ingredients of this dish, and once I got that down, I followed my gut on how much to use. You should do the same –  What may be ideal for others, may not work for you. Tone it down or take a notch up as needed.

Serve prawns balchao hot accompanied by rice, and as I have said before, don’t be afraid to experiment with the spice levels when you cook, and feel free to reduce or increase the heat levels.

If this recipe for Prawns Balchao has worked for you, please do leave me a comment. I would love to hear from you.

How to make prawns balchao?

I have two versions of the recipe here – stove top as well as Instant Pot. I prefer the Instant Pot version because it cooks shrimp/prawns perfectly in 5 minutes – crunchy and well-cooked.

Prawns / Shrimp balchao served with a side of rice and fried fish
Shrimp Balchao

Other recipes for you to try on your Instant Pot

Before you leave, do follow me on Pinterest and pin this recipe to your board to make it in the future.

Recipe card – save the recipe

📩  Save this recipe!

Enter your email below, and we will send it straight to your inbox. As a bonus, you’ll receive recipe ideas every week!

Prawns balchao served in a black bowl with a side of rice
Click on the stars to rate!
4.86 from 7 votes

Prawns Balchao

Prawns Balchao is a fiery dish that finds its origins in Goa. Prawns are stir-fried first and then added to a pickled curry sauce to create a dish that makes your taste buds tingle and leaves you asking for more.
Pin Print Save
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb 4 cups cleaned and deveined, medium-sized prawns (or shrimp) [uncooked]
  • ½ cup oil
  • 2 cups onion finely chopped
  • 2- ½ cups tomatoes finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • Water as needed

For the masala

Instructions
 

Stovetop method

  • Grind all the ingredients in the masala section (chilies, garlic, ginger, cloves, cumin and mustard seeds, cinnamon stick and vinegar) to a fine paste. Set aside.
  • In a deep dish pan kept over medium heat, add 1/4 cup oil and when it heats up, saute the prawns (or shrimp, if using) for a couple of minutes, till they change color. Use a slotted spoon to scoop the prawns out and to drain oil. Set the prawns aside. [ For best results, fry in batches so that the prawns are evenly sauteed].
  • In the same pan, add the remaining oil and fry onions till they are soft and translucent (in approximately 10 minutes). Add tomatoes to it and continue to fry them till the onion-tomato mixture has turned soft and mushy and oil starts to surface (in approximately 10-12 minutes).
  • Add the ground masala along with 1/2 cup of water and mix well. Continue to cook for another 5-7 minutes and then add prawns, sugar and mix well. Add water to adjust the consistency of the sauce to your liking. Cover the pan and let the shrimp simmer in the sauce for another 8-10 minutes till it is cooked completely.
  • Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with rice.

Instant Pot method

  • Grind all the ingredients in the masala section (chilies, garlic, ginger, cloves, cumin and mustard seeds, cinnamon stick and vinegar) to a fine paste. Set aside.
  • Add 1/4 cup oil to the steel insert of the Instant Pot and press the Saute function. Press the Adjust button to move the selection to “Normal” and wait till the display reads “Hot.” and add prawns/shrimp.
  • Saute the prawns for a couple of minutes, till they change color. Use a slotted spoon to scoop the prawns out and to drain oil. Set the prawns aside. [ For best results, fry in batches so that the prawns are evenly sauteed].
  • Add the remaining oil and fry onions till they are soft and translucent (in approximately 10 minutes). Add tomatoes to it and continue to fry them till the onion-tomato mixture has turned soft and mushy and oil starts to surface (in approximately 10-12 minutes).
  • Add the ground masala along with 1/2 cup of water and mix well. Continue to cook for another 5-7 minutes and then add prawns, sugar and mix well. Add water to adjust the consistency of the sauce to your liking.
  •  Press “Warm / Cancel” button and then select “Pressure Cook.” Adjust the time to 4 minutes and set the pressure selection at low. Cover the Instant Pot lid and lock it. Make sure the vent is at sealing position.
  • Once the cooking cycle completes, the Instant Pot will switch to the Warm cycle. Press the Warm/Cancel button and carefully release pressure. Open the lid and let the steam escape.
  • Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with rice.

Notes

To get about 1 lb of cleaned, deveined prawns, you’ll need to buy at least 2lbs of prawns.
Read the post…For helpful information on ingredient swaps, storage tips, meal prep ideas, and variations!

Disclaimer: Approximate nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and can vary depending on the exact ingredients/brands used. If you have health issues, please work with a registered dietician or nutritionist.

Nutrition

Calories: 293kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 17gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 191mgSodium: 596mgPotassium: 311mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 525IUVitamin C: 16.7mgCalcium: 147mgIron: 2.5mg
Diet: Pescatarian
Course: Main Course
Method: Instant Pot, Stovetop
Keywords: Goan, spicy, Tangy
Cuisine: Indian
Did you enjoy this recipe or have a question?Please leave a comment below. Don’t forget to rate!

Affiliate Disclosure: I am grateful to be of service and bring you content free of charge. To do this, some of the links on this post are affiliate links, which means that I may earn a commission (at no cost to you) if you click on the link or make a purchase using the link. I only recommend products that I use and love myself, so I know you’ll be in good hands. Your support in purchasing through these links goes towards maintaining this website. Thank you!

Get dinner on the table faster!

Learn my meal planning + prepping secrets to make fresh Indian food without spending hours in the kitchen.

An overhead shot of Gujarathi kadhi along with rice, rotis and a side of lemon

FREE EMAIL COURSE

Simmer to slimmer logo

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




3 Comments

    1. Hi, Gord – Thanks for stopping by. So sorry, your dish was spicier than expected.I hope you were able to eat it. Prawns Balchao is a very spicy dish. That is why I specifically called this out in the post ” I mostly read the recipes to understand the ingredients that are needed and then follow my gut when it comes to how much to use. The reason you should do that too is because you only what is the right balance of spices for your family. What may be ideal for others, may not work for you. Tone it down or take a notch up as needed.”

      Good luck for next time.
      Anushree