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Serving Goan prawn pulao

Goan Prawn Pulao Recipe

Goan Prawn Pulao is a fragrant and flavorful one-pot rice dish combining juicy prawns, aromatic spices, and long-grain basmati rice. It’s perfect for a cozy lunch or dinner and pairs wonderfully with raita, salad, or a simple pickle. This coastal favorite balances spice and subtle seafood sweetness in every bite—ready in under 45 minutes!
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: goan prawn pulao
Servings: 4
Author: Chef Yogi

Ingredients

  • 2 cups basmati rice long-grain, washed and soaked for 15–20 minutes
  • 200 g prawns cleaned and deveined
  • 1 no large onion thinly sliced
  • 1 no medium tomato finely chopped
  • 2 no green chilies slit lengthwise
  • 5 no cloves
  • 8 no green cardamoms
  • 2- inch stick cinnamon
  • tsp ginger-garlic paste
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tbsp ghee clarified butter
  • 3 tbsp oil any neutral cooking oil
  • 1 tbsp salt adjust to taste
  • 3 cups water

Instructions

  • Rinse the basmati rice under cold water until the water runs clear.
    Rinsing basmati rice
  • Soak the rice in water for 15–20 minutes. Then drain and set aside.
    Soaking basmati rice
  • Clean and devein the prawns. Rinse and pat dry with a paper towel.
    Cleaning and deveining prawns
  • Heat 3 tbsp oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or pressure cooker over medium heat.
    Heating oil in pot
  • Add cloves, cardamoms, and cinnamon stick. Sauté for 20–30 seconds until aromatic.
    Sautéing whole spices
  • Add sliced onions and green chilies. Cook until the onions turn golden brown (about 6–8 minutes).
    Cooking onions and chilies
  • Stir in the ginger-garlic paste. Sauté for 1 minute until the raw smell disappears.
    Sautéing ginger-garlic paste
  • Add chopped tomato. Cook for 3–4 minutes until soft and pulpy.
    Cooking chopped tomato
  • Mix in turmeric powder and salt. Cook for another 1 minute.
    Mixing turmeric and salt
  • Add the cleaned prawns to the masala. Sauté for 2–3 minutes until they just turn pink. Don’t overcook.Transfer the mixture to a separate bowl and set aside.
    Sautéing prawns in masala
  • In the same pot, add 3 cups of water and bring to a boil.
    Boiling water in pot
  • Add the soaked, drained rice and return the prawn masala to the pot.
    Adding rice and prawn masala
  • Cook on high heat until most of the water is absorbed and the rice grains appear on the surface. reduce heat to low and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Cook for 5–7 more minutes or until the rice is tender and fully cooked.
    Cooking rice on stove
  • If using a pressure cooker, close the lid and cook for 1 whistle on medium heat. Let rest for 5 minutes off heat.
    Pressure cooking rice
  • Drizzle ghee over the cooked pulao. Fluff the rice gently with a fork.
    Drizzling ghee on pulao
  • Serve hot with cucumber raita, salad, or a squeeze of lemon.
    Serving Goan prawn pulao

Notes

Rice-to-water ratio: Adjust based on rice quality. Some basmati may require slightly more water.
Don’t overcook prawns: They should be just pink and firm, not rubbery.
Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Reheat with a splash of water.
Spice level: Add a pinch of garam masala or a whole red chili for extra heat.
Add veggies: You can mix in peas, carrots, or bell peppers for a wholesome twist.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!