BHATTI KA JHINGA ( Prawns grilled with freshly ground spices)

Most seafoods...should be simply threatened with heat and then celebrated with joy." Jeff Smith (The Frugal Gourmet)


Prawns are an all time favourite in our family. Coming from a coastal town, we are all high on sea food.
As kids, we got to eat sea food daily during our summer vacation. With 8 kids in the house, prawns and mussels were rationed. Unlike other fish, everyone loved prawns and there was always an adult hovering around the table so that peace was maintained when we had lunch.

It is hilarious now, when I think about it. But back then, it was battle time. One had to be on vigil throughout the meal, else the prawns might just disappear.

BHATTI KA JHINGA
Source : Food Lovers Magazine

Ingredients :
800 gm Jumbo Prawn
1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
2 tsp lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp Deghi Mirch powder ( Kashmiri Chilli powder)
1 tsp chaat masala
1 tsp coriander powder
2 tbsp hung yougurt
1 tbsp vegetable oil
salt to taste

For Bhatti ka masala
1 tsp star anise
1/2 tsp shahi jeera
1/2 tsp ajwain
2 tsp coriander seeds
3 tsp black peppercorns
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp black salt

How to do it :

Making the Bhatti Ka Masala
1. Dry roast all the whole spice.Powder these spices and keep aside.

Marinating the Prawns :
1.Apply ginger-garlic paste, salt and lime juice to the prawns and let it rest for 20 minutes.
2. Marinate  prawns with Bhatti ka masala, coriander powder,chilli powder,black salt and hung curd for an hour.

Grilling :

1. Skewer the prawns on to the wooden skewers. Place them on the grill pan and cook on high heat for 3 minutes. Keep turning the prawns at regular intervals. Baste with oil regularly.
2. Sprinkle chaat masala before serving.

 Prawns with Garlic Butter 

If you are looking for a variation, here is one that I tried. I kept aside 6 marinated prawns and cooked them on the tawa with garlic and butter.

1. Melt Butter ( 1 tsp or 1/2 tsp) in a tawa.
2. Add 4-5 pods of lightly crushed garlic to the melted butter. Roast lightly till aroma comes out.
3. Add the above marinated prawns. (6 in number )
4. Cook on high flame for 3-4 minutes.
5. Add curry leaves for flavour.