Kolambi Bhaat or Prawns Rice is a famous and authentic seafood rice delicacy cooked with prawns, rice, onions and spices from the Malvan region of Maharashtra.
Marinade Prawns with Salt, turmeric, chili powder,hing,garlic paste and a piece of Kokam (you can also use lime juice) for 1 hour.
Wash and soak basmati rice for 30 mins 3)Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds and then the whole Garam masala till nice aroma comes from the spices.
Add chopped Onions and fry till light brown
Then add ginger garlic paste (you can also use 2 tsp ginger,garlic,green chilli, coriander leaf chutney). Saute till raw flavours go away.
Add tomatoes, some salt and cover cook for 2 mins or till the tomatoes become soft. (Raw smell of tomatoes should disappear.
Now add the dry masala (turmeric,chilli powder,coriander n cumin powder, garam masala, goda masala)and the slit green chilli and saute till the spices get cooked and oil separates.
Add marinated prawns, mix well and let it cook for 10 mins ( prawns should be 90 % cooked).
Add soaked basmati rice (do not add water at this point) mix and cover cook the prawns n rice for 3 mins with stirring in between (to avoid food sticking and burning)
Add salt to taste and 1 and 1/2 cups hot water.( use water as per your experience..for me 1 n 1/2 cup water works well for 1 cup rice..2 cups make the rice soft.
Cover and cook on medium heat for 10 mins then lower the heat to minimum and let it cook for another 20-30 mins.
Turn off the gas and let the rice to rest for 5-10 mins.
Garnish with Cilantro.
Serve with raita or just as it is with a fresh grated coconut and a wedge of lemon.