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The Heart of the Recipe

• The Harvest: Fresh Prawns (Chemmeen), meticulously cleaned and deveined.

• The Purification Blend: Natural Vinegar, Sea Salt, and Turmeric.

• The Community Spice Mix: A deep marinade of Turmeric, Red Chili powder, and Salt.

• Fresh Aromatics: Hand-cut Ginger, slit Green Chilies, sliced Garlic cloves, and fresh Curry Leaves.

• Traditional Spice Base: Mustard seeds, roasted Fenugreek (Uluvapodi), Turmeric, and pure Asafoetida (Kayapodi).

• The Foundation: Pure Sesame Oil (Nallenna) and authentic Toddy Vinegar (Kallu Vinegar) for a nostalgic, sharp depth.

The Community Method

I. Preparing the Catch
We begin with premium prawns, ensuring they are thoroughly cleaned and the veins are removed. To ensure purity, the prawns are washed in a traditional mixture of vinegar, salt, and turmeric, then left in a colander to drain completely.

II. The Slow Cure
The prawns are hand-marinated with a blend of turmeric, salt, and red chili powder. We allow them to rest for one to two hours; this patience ensures the spices are fully absorbed into the prawns, providing a rich flavor in every bite.

III. The Golden Sear
In a traditional heavy-bottomed pan, we fry the marinated prawns in sesame oil until they are firm and golden, then set them aside.

IV. Gathering the Aromatics
In the same aromatic oil, we sauté the garlic, ginger, green chilies, and curry leaves until they become fragrant. On a low flame, we introduce the chili powder, asafoetida, turmeric, and roasted fenugreek powder, stirring carefully to allow the spices to bloom without losing their vibrancy.

V. The Final Simmer
Finally, we add the authentic toddy vinegar and a pinch of salt, bringing the mixture to a steady, rolling boil. Once the sauce has thickened into a rich, glossy gravy, we fold in the fried prawns. We simmer the mixture until the prawns are perfectly enveloped in the thick spice reduction.

Kitchen Notes

Allow the preserve to cool to room temperature before transferring it into clean, sterilized glass jars. For the best experience, ensure the prawns remain submerged under a layer of seasoned oil to preserve their texture and flavor.

Taste Profile

• Spicy

• Tangy

• Slight natural sweetness from prawns

• Rich coastal flavour

Why This Matters

By choosing this product, you are supporting women from Fort Kochi and Mattancherry who are building independent livelihoods through traditional food practices.