Kitchen Recipe Collection
Sri Lankan Prawn Curry (Isso Curry)
Succulent, juicy prawns cooked in a fragrant and fiery Sri Lankan coconut milk curry, bursting with the flavors of curry leaves, chili, and roasted spices.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 35 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- easy
- Cuisine
- sri lankan
Ingredients
Scaled for 4 servings
- large prawns (shell-on or peeled)
- coconut milk
- onion
- garlic
- ginger
- tomatoes
- red chili powder
- curry powder
- turmeric
- black pepper
- curry leaves
- pandan leaf
- oil
- salt
- lime juice
Equipment
- Deep pan or clay pot
- Knife
Instructions
- 1
Marinate Prawns
Marinate cleaned prawns with turmeric, red chili powder, black pepper, salt, and lime juice for 10 minutes.
- 2
Temper
Heat oil in a pan. Add curry leaves, pandan leaf, and sliced onion. Fry until golden. Add garlic and ginger paste and cook for 1 minute.
- 3
Add Spices & Tomatoes
Add curry powder and additional chili powder. Stir for 30 seconds, then add chopped tomatoes. Cook until the tomatoes break down, about 5 minutes.
- 4
Add Coconut Milk
Pour in coconut milk and bring to a gentle simmer.
- 5
Cook Prawns
Add the marinated prawns to the simmering curry. Cook for 4–6 minutes only — prawns cook very quickly and become rubbery if overcooked. Remove from heat as soon as they turn pink and curl.
- 6
Serve
Finish with a squeeze of fresh lime. Serve with white rice.
Cooking Tips
- Never overcook prawns — they are done the moment they turn bright pink and opaque. Overcooked prawns become rubbery.
- Shell-on prawns add more flavor to the curry but peeled prawns are easier to eat.
- Prawn curry should be made fresh and served immediately.
Variations
- Devilled Prawns: Stir-fry cooked prawns in a hot pan with capsicum, onion, chili sauce, and soy sauce for a dry version.
- Dry Prawn Curry: Reduce coconut milk for a drier, more intensely spiced preparation.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- Isso means 'shrimp/prawn' in Sinhala. This dish is especially popular along Sri Lanka's coastal regions.
- Storage: Best consumed immediately. Prawns toughen when reheated.
Nutrition Estimate
295 calories · 29g protein · 10g carbs · 16g fat · 2g fiber per serving
