Prawn Balchao Achar Pickle Recipe

Balchao is a pickling mixture from Goa consisting of Onions Garlic Ginger Spices Oil and Vinegar

In the olden days, coconut vinegar and coconut oil were used in the recipe. I have substituted Coconut oil with Canola oil, and coconut vinegar with white vinegar

Balchao Pickling Mixture |  What is Balchao?

Ingredients

1. Prawn: 2 Pound

Choose large size such as 16 to pound. Clean and de-vein

2. Canola oil: 2 cups

3. Onions chopped: 1 cup

4. Fresh Ginger chopped fine: 2"x1"
5. Garlic Coarse chopped: 10 cloves

6. Serrano: 6 Split in half vertically

7. White vinegar (5% Acid): ½ cup

8. Sugar: 1 teaspoon

Dry Spice Mix

1. Hot Cayenne ground: 1 Tablespoon

2. Black Peppercorn Cracked: 1 teaspoon

3. Cumin seeds: 1 teaspoon

Coarse ground same consistency as spent coffee grounds

4. Turmeric powder: 1 teaspoon

5. Black Mustard seeds cracked: 1 teaspoon

6. Cinnamon: ½ teaspoon

One 3"x¼" stick coarse ground same consistency as spent coffee grounds

7. Cloves: ¼ teaspoon

Four Cloves coarse ground same consistency as spent coffee grounds

Method

1. Heat Canola oil in a pan

2. Fry Prawns for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove Prawn and set aside

3. Add onions. Fry till start to turn brown.

4. Add Ginger, Garlic, Serrano. Fry about 2 minutes

5. Add Dry mix. Fry about 1 to 2 minutes

6. Add Vinegar, and sugar. Let it come to hard simmer

7. Add Prawns., continue simmering for 3 minutes

8. Shut off heat. Let it come to room temperature

9. Transfer to sterilized jar. Secure lid tight

Age in dry warm place (Top Cupboard shelf) for 2 to 4 days

10. Store in cool dry dark place. It should have a shelf life of about 90 days