Bombay (Mumbai), where I was born and grew up, owes a lot to the Parsi community. Whenever I visit, I look forward to visiting my favorite spots like Cafe Irani, Kyani & Co, Yazdani Bakery and Restaurant, etc. I was overjoyed when London-based Chef Farokh Talati’s cookbook landed in my mail……….READ MORE ABOUT THE BOOK AND RECIPES IN MY NEWSLETTER
Read about Parsi: From Persia to Bombay: recipes & tales from the ancient culture/Bloomsbury. Copyright © 2022 by Farokh Talati in my newsletter, The Flavor Files, and get a copy of the book (Amazon/Bookshop)
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Parsi Prawn Kebabs/Kolmi Na Kavab
Excerpted from Parsi: From Persia to Bombay: recipes & tales from the ancient culture. Used with the permission of the publisher, Bloomsbury. Copyright © 2022 by Farokh Talati (Amazon/Bookshop)
This prawn kebab recipe from the Parsi cookbook quickly became a favorite in our home. The unique combination of spices, flavors, and comforting textures made it a clear winner. Serve it as an appetizer, a side, or in a sandwich.
- Yield: 12
Ingredients
For the Kebabs
2 tsp salt
1.1 lb/500 g potato, peeled and cut into 3/4 in/2 cm chunks
1.1 lb/500 g raw prawns, peeled and deveined
2 Tbsp masala paste
1 3/4 oz/50 g frozen peas
1 large carrot, peeled and diced small
a small handful of cilantro leaves picked and chopped
1 tsp cumin seeds, lightly crushed
For Frying and Coating
2 cups/500 ml vegetable oil
7 oz/200 g coarse semolina or dried fine breadcrumbs
4 large eggs, beaten
Instructions
- Bring a pan of water to a boil, add 1 tsp of salt and the potatoes. Boil for about 10 minutes, until the potatoes are cooked through and tender. Drain in a colander and tip them onto a tray to cool and steam off.
- Place the prawns and the masala paste in a food processor and give them a few pulses – you want to chop the prawns up and mix them with the masala paste, but you don’t want to turn it into a homogeneous, smooth paste; you want some coarseness in there, for texture.
- Tip the potatoes, prawn mixture, a teaspoon of salt, and all the remaining kebab ingredients in a large bowl and, using your hands or a large spoon, mix everything until you have a uniform mixture. Set aside while you heat the oil for frying.
- Pour the vegetable oil into a sturdy-bottomed pot or sturdy frying pan and heat it to 350F/180C (or until a small piece of bread dropped into the oil sizzles and turns golden within 60 seconds). At this point, you know your oil is ready to cook with. Keep the pan over low–medium heat.
- Divide your kebab mixture into 12 equally-sized balls. Roll the balls in the semolina or breadcrumbs until fully coated, then slightly flatten each ball into a disk, then the beaten egg. A few at a time, carefully place the balls in the hot oil, using a slotted spoon to move and turn the kebabs, cooking for 4 to 5 minutes, until golden all over and piping hot through the middle. Set each batch aside to drain on kitchen paper while you cook the remainder.
- Serve your kebabs hot from the fryer with lime wedges for squeezing over.
Notes
- These kebabs store well for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- I used a Rusett potato to make the kebabs.
6 Responses
Just wondering if in the last stage of preparing the kebabs for frying, do you first crumb it and then dip in egg or should the process be reversed, as is usually the case whilst making kebabs or cutlets etc
No, the recipe is correct as written, don’t reverse anything. This method is specific and creates that unique threaded texture. It’s also done for ground chicken kebabs/cutlets served in several restaurants in Bombay, like the one at J Hearsch Bakery.
Thanks for this recipe. What do you recommend for the masala paste, a commercial paste (which brand?) or made at home (online recipe)?
Judy
There’s no commercial paste that I know of, but if you hover over where it says “masala paste” and click, it will take you to the recipe.
This sounds delicious! if I didn’t want to fry them, could they be baked?
They can be baked but a note of caution; baking won’t create the same crispy threads like frying does. I’d also recommend reversing the way the semolina and egg are applied as written in the recipe if you plan to bake.