Name: Shrimp Curry with Yogurt and Peas
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 1/4 cup vegetable oil (canola oil); 1 medium onion , sliced thin; 4 large cloves garlic , pureed; 1 1/2 inch piece fresh ginger , peeled and pureed; 1 1/2 pounds shrimp , peeled and deveined; 2 teaspoons ground cumin; 2 teaspoons ground coriander; 1 teaspoon ground turmeric; 1/2 teaspoon table salt , plus more to taste; 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt; 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves; 1 jalapeño chile , stemmed and cut in half through the stem end; 1 cup green peas (thawed if frozen, or fresh)

Why This Recipe Works

For a deeply flavored shrimp curry, we sautéed the onion and then added aromatic ginger and garlic, ground spices, and yogurt. We added the shrimp and peas at the very end to keep them from overcooking.

Before You Begin

Gather and prepare all your ingredients before you begin. Garlic and ginger may be pureed by hand or in a minichop food processor. If using a minichopper, process the garlic and ginger with 1 to 2 tablespoons of water until pureed. You may substitute a scant 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper for the jalapeño, adding it to the skillet with the other ground dried spices. Feel free to increase the wet (garlic, ginger, jalapeños, and onions) or dry spice quantities. Serve the curry with basmati rice.

Instructions

Heat oil in large deep skillet or soup kettle, preferably nonstick, over medium-high heat until hot, but not smoking. Add onion to skillet; sauté until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes.

Stir in garlic, ginger, ground spices, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and yogurt; cook, stirring almost constantly, until liquid evaporates, oil separates and turns orange, and spices begin to fry, 5 to 7 minutes, depending on skillet or kettle size. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until spices smell cooked, about 30 seconds longer.

Stir in 1 cup cilantro. Add 2 cups water and jalapeño and season with salt; bring to simmer. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5 minutes.

Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro. Add shrimp and peas. Simmer 3 minutes longer and serve.