- 4
Ingredients
- 4 SERVINGS
- This South Indian dish-also known as xec-xec-is full of tamarind, cumin, coriander, and roasted coconut. The spices meld with the tomato to form a flavorful sauce that clings to the shrimp.
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 (1-inch) piece cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
- 4 whole cloves
- 1/4 cup unsweetened dried grated coconut
- 1 teaspoon hot red-pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon grated peeled ginger (use a Microplane)
- 2 (4-inch) fresh hot green chiles, cut lengthwise into thin shreds, plus seeds
- 1/4 cup Swad-brand tamarind concentrate (see cooks' notes, below)
- 1 cup finely chopped plum tomato (1 large)
- 1 1/2 lb large shrimp, peeled
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt such as fleur de sel
- 2 teaspoons Sherry vinegar or red-wine vinegar
- EQUIPMENT: an electric coffee/spice grinder
- ACCOMPANIMENT: basmati rice or Indian bread
Preparation
Step 1
Toast coriander, cumin, cinnamon, and cloves in a small heavy skillet over medium heat, shaking skillet, until fragrant and darker (do not burn), 3 to 4 minutes.
Stir in coconut, red-pepper flakes, and turmeric and cook, stirring, until coconut is golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
Transfer to a bowl and cool completely, then pulse in grinder until finely ground.
Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then saute onion until golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, chiles, tamarind, and spice mixture and cook, stirring, 30 seconds.
Add tomato and cook, stirring, until sauce is thickened, 3 to 4 minutes.
Toss shrimp with sea salt, then add to sauce and cook, stirring, until just cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in vinegar and season with sea salt.
COOKS NOTE: If you can't find tamarind concentrate at your Asian market, use 3 tablespoons tamarind pulp (from a pliable block) softened in 6 tablespoons hot water, stirred into a paste, then forced through a sieve.