Prawns with Black Pepper and Curry Leaf Sauce and Cashew Nut Curry - My Sri Lanka

I have a place in my heart for the country Sri Lanka. Years ago my husband and I booked our first ever overseas holiday - to Sri Lanka. It was called a 'Helping Hands' tour run by NRMA and included times in the trip that helped out those in need. We were so excited but then I received a phone call telling me the tour had been cancelled due to the war, it was no longer safe for us to travel. I was truly devastated and my heart went out to the people who had to live in this 'unsafe' country.

So when I saw advertised the new television series My Sri Lanka by one of my favourite chefs Peter Kuruvita I was so pleased. And I was not disappointed, it really felt as though you were seeing and experiencing a piece of the Sri Lanka Peter knew and obviously loved.

And I was inspired to cook more of this amazing cuisine.

So here are two recipes from the first episode - first a Cashew Nut Curry and the second Prawns with Black Pepper and Curry Leaf Sauce

This curry recipe was really quite simple. 

The onions, green chilli, pandan and curry leaves are cooked before adding in spices of cumin, coriander, turmeric and cinnamon.

 

The cashews and coconut milk are then added and the curry allowed to reduce and thicken.

Finally at the end add some coconut cream.

It was delicious and really did taste fit for a priest!

The flavours were rich and slightly sweet from the coconut with all the underlying flavours allowed to come through.

Just had to include my 'griddled' flatbread, worked a treat, they were perfect.

The sauce from the prawns included a base of chilli. curry leaves, garlic, onion and ginger.

They were cooked over high heat before turning it down and adding lots of butter.

This was allowed to simmer down after adding soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, sugar and of course black pepper. I actually had trouble with my lowest heat being too hot and ended up having to drastically reduce my cooking time.

The result was a very thick and intense sauce that was amazing with the prawns especially topped with some freshly shredded coconut and some fresh curry leaves.

So I was able to have a little Sri Lankan adventure in my kitchen and one that was greatly enjoyed at our dinner table.

Looking forward to the next episode (thursday 7:30pm SBS).

I am also so excited as for our 10th wedding anniversary next month we are having lunch at Peter's restaurant Flying Fish.