Sneha's Recipe: Dried Baby Shrimps

This is an East Indian dish that is a mostly prepared in Monsoons where in fresh fish is not easily available because of rains. Dry fish is stocked in East Indian homes in the month of February or March wherein you get fresh dried fish. This is a most easy quick and delicious dry / side dish.

Sending this to Fish Friday Foodies our Host choose the theme prepare a Fish dish with " Preserved Fish- Pickled, Canned, Dried".

Ingredients

2 Cups Zavla / Baby Shrimps
2 - 3 Baby Brinjals - cut into pieces
2 Spring Onions - finely chopped - green and white separated
8 Cloves Garlic - minced
1 Inch Ginger - minced
3 Green Chillies - minced or according to taste
2 Tablespoons Coriander Leaves - finely chopped
1 Tablespoon Heaped Bottle Masala - see note
2 Tablespoons Oil
1 Teaspoon Tamarind Juice or 4 -5 Kokam
Salt to taste

Method

Clean the dried baby shrimps well to remove any dirt, stones or any other dried fish. Wash the zavla / dried shrimps well in a bowl of water taking only what come on top ( at the bottom will be all the dirt that settles down) and then soak it in clean water for 10 - 15 minutes (this step is very important - do not use the dry fish directly it to needs to be soaked in water first). After 15 minutes place the shrimps in a fine mesh strainer to drain all the excess water. Keep aside.

Slice the brinjals and keep in the water to avoid darkening.

In a vessel/ pan heat oil add chopped onions, green chilly, ginger and garlic, saute for 5 minutes.

Add the chopped spring onions and saute for 2 -3 minutes.
Now add the the soaked & drained shrimps /zavla and fry for 2 minutes then add the bottle masala and and chopped brinjals.

Mix well just sprinkle water and cover with lid and cook over medium low flame till the shrimps and brinjals are done. Now add the tamarind pulp and cook for few more minutes. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.