Royyala Vepudu Recipe | Andhra Stir Fried Prawns

Royyala Vepudu is a popular South Indian dish made with prawns (royyala) and a flavorful blend of spices. It's a delicious and spicy dish that is typically served as a side dish with rice or as an appetizer. Generally stir fried prawns means directly frying the prawns. But, this Andhra recipe Royyala Vepudu is prepared by boiling  the prawns first and then, fry them. Here's a  recipe for Royyala Vepudu:

Ingredients Royyala Vepudu :

For Marinating the Prawns:

• 250 grams of cleaned and deveined prawns
• 1 teaspoon of red chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• Salt to taste

For the Spice Paste:

• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1-inch piece of ginger, minced
• 2-3 green chilies, slit
• 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon of coriander seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds (methi)
• 1/2 teaspoon of mustard seeds
• 10-12 curry leaves
• 2 tablespoons of oil
• Salt to taste

Instructions of making Royyala Vepudu :

Marinate the Prawns:

• In a bowl, combine the cleaned and deveined prawns with red chili powder, turmeric powder, and salt. Mix well and set aside for 15-20 minutes while you prepare the spice paste.

Prepare the Spice Paste:

• Heat a pan over medium heat and add the cumin seeds, coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds, and mustard seeds. Dry roast them for a couple of minutes until they become fragrant.
• Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan and add the chopped onions. Sauté until they turn translucent.
• Add the minced ginger, garlic, and green chilies. Sauté for another few minutes until the raw smell disappears.
• Add the curry leaves and continue to sauté for a minute.
• Remove this mixture from the heat and let it cool.
• Once it's cooled down, grind this mixture into a smooth paste using a little water if needed.

Cook the Prawns:

• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan over medium heat.
• Add the ground spice paste and sauté for a few minutes until the oil starts to separate from the paste.
• Add the marinated prawns and cook them for about 5-7 minutes until they turn pink and are cooked through.
• Adjust salt and spice levels as per your taste.

Serving of Royyala Vepudu :

• Once the prawns are cooked and the spices are well-incorporated, remove from heat.
• Serve hot Royyala Vepudu as a side dish with steamed rice or as an appetizer with lemon wedges.

Enjoy your homemade Royyala Vepudu! Adjust the spice level according to your preference by adding more or fewer green chilies.

Country of origin- India

State- Andhra Pradesh