Jhinga Karahi (Prawn Karahi)
King prawns tossed in a fierce, tomato rich karahi with ginger, green chilli and crushed black pepper.
Made with Curry base sauce (onion and tomato) and Karahi masala base. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time30 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.42 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oil in a wok or karahi over a high heat. Add half the ginger matchsticks and the green chillies and fry for 30 seconds.
0 min 30 s - 2
Pour in your ready made karahi masala base and curry base sauce (see the base recipes). Boil hard for 6 minutes, stirring, until the sauce is thick and the oil starts to separate at the edges.
6 min - 3
Add the prawns, black pepper and salt. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, turning, until pink all over.
3 min 30 s - 4
Stir in the garam masala and lemon juice. Top with the rest of the ginger and the fresh coriander. Serve with rice or gluten free flatbreads.
Tips
- Karahi is cooked hot and fast with little water. Boil the sauce down until it clings.
- Crush the pepper coarsely rather than grinding it. The bursts of heat are part of the dish.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten fresh. Cool within 1 hour, keep in the fridge for up to 1 day and reheat until steaming hot all the way through. Do not freeze cooked prawns.
Questions
Can I use cooked prawns?
Yes, add them in the last 1 to 2 minutes just to heat through. Cooking them longer makes them tough and rubbery.
How do I make it hotter?
Add more sliced green chilli with the ginger, or a pinch of Kashmiri chilli powder with the prawns.
More made with curry base sauce (onion and tomato)
Machli Bhuna (Fish Bhuna)
DFEFNFTrinidad Style Curry Beef with Potatoes
DFEFNFCurried Red Lentil and Tomato Soup
GFDFEFBombay Aloo Matar (Potato and Pea Curry)
GFDFEFSee every dish made with curry base sauce (onion and tomato)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.