Shrimp Pulao Instant Pot And Stove Top Seafood Rice Recipe

Cuisine: IndianEASE: EasyServe with : Raita & PapadPros: Whole meal in one pot, perfect for lunch or dinner A delicious one pot wonder that has a delicious blend of succulent shrimp, fragrant spices, and fluffy rice. Sometimes you just need a fast but delicious meal without fuss, without several pots, something that will impress but with least amount of work possible. This is that dish. You can make it quite easily - in your trusty instant pot or on stove top. This dish has everything- carb, protein, veggies and it comes together quite easily We love shrimp. Like we are a shrimp family. I can literally bribe my child with shrimp. Seriously. And that’s why this recipe is on our weekly rotation because it checks all the right boxes. It’s the best Indian seafood recipe to have happened to me in a long time!! My usual go to shrimp recipes are Butter Garlic Shrimp or Mangalorean Prawn Sukka and Kerala Prawn Curry

What is Shrimp Pulao?

Pulao, also known as pilaf, is a name for a rice dish. It is made by cooking rice along with spices, Yogurt or stock, and other ingredients such as vegetables, meat, or seafood. In our case we will cook with shrimp. There are a lot of versions of pulao and it’s a very standard indian meal. Every family, every region, makes a version of this in india. I ate pulao at home, almost everyday after school! Some of the more common pulao recipes are Peas Pulao, Vegetable Pulao, Chicken Pulao. The dish is a lot like paela but with indian flavours.

Ingredients for Shrimp Pulao

Gather Your Ingredients:

Basmati Rice - older the better Shrimp or Prawn Onions or shallots Tomatoes Coconut Milk Ginger & Garlic Mint and Cilantro leaves Lime Powdered Spices- Coriander powder, Turmeric and Chilli Powder(or Curry powder) Whole spices- Cinnamon,Star Anise,Cardamom,Bay leaf and Cloves

Shrimp

Shrimp is also known as prawns in some regions, are crustaceans that are widely consumed and enjoyed around the world. They are known for their tender meat, mild sweetness, and ability to absorb flavors, making them a popular choice in various cuisines. Clean and devein the shrimp, removing the shell and digestive tract before cooking. This ensures that the shrimp will be clean and free from any gritty texture. Most often I buy big shrimp that’s already been cleaned and deveined.

Basmati Rice

I recommend using basmati rice to make this pulao. The measurements etc are perfect when using basmati rice. If you want to use any other type of rice, you will have to adjust the water/liquid quantity. I don’t recommend using brown rice as it takes a lot longer to cook which can make the shrimp overcooked and rubbery.

Spices

I have used the usualy suspects- Turmeric, Chili powder and coriander seeds powder. Besides these, I have also used whole spices- Cinnamon, Cardamom and Star anise. These spices make a regular pulao to something more fragrant and rich. If you can’t get them, you can also use a teaspoon of garam masala or in the worst case, curry powder. Though curry powder might contain a blend of a lot of other spices along with turmeric , chili powder and coriander seeds. So you will need to leave those out too. If you have powdered cinnamon, cardamom and star anise, use only ¼ teaspoon of each. You want them to gently flavor the rice, not over power it.

Coconut Milk

You could make coconut milk at home, but I find that process quite long and laborious. Instead, use canned coconut milk. I often freeze the excess coconut milk and use it later for things like this pulao or curries.

Substitutions

Coconut Milk - You could use buttermilk instead. Shrimp - Instead of shrimp, you can use a firm fish instead. Vegan/Vegetarian - You can use vegetables instead of fish. Look at making the Instant Pot Vegetable Biryani instead.

How to make Shrimp Pulao

Both Instant Pot method and the stove top method of making this pulav take similar amount of time. The ingredients are pretty simple and the recipe is forgiving. You can substitute the shrimp with prawn if you like.

Instant Pot Method

Step 1: Brown the Onions

Using the SAUTE mode, heat the instant pot. Once hot, add coconut oil. Add the Shallots, onion and green chilies. Sauté till golden brown.(as shown in the picture) If you can’t find shallots, use normal onions.Make sure to brown them well.This will be crucial for the flavour. This Step takes about 15-18 minutes depending on how thinly sliced your onion is.

Step 2: Making the Masala

Add the tomatoes and cook for about 2 minutes. Tip in the spices and roast for about 30 seconds. This helps in releasing the flavors of the whole and ground spices. Deglaze with water. Add Coconut milk.

Step 3:Pressure Cooking

Add the rice, coriander and mint leaves, Shrimp. Give it a mix. Cancel the Sauté function.Choose “Pressure Cook” function and set the timer for 6 minutes with the valve at “Sealing” position.Quick Release the pressure. Fluff the rice with a fork, Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve hot!

Stove Top Shrimp Pulao

This way is perfect for when you don’t have a pressure cooker or instant pot.Also in my experience, the onions brown better and faster on stover top.

Step 1: Brown the Onions

Heat a large pan or pot. This is a one pot recipe, so it should be big enough that it can take all the rice. Add oil. Once it’s heated through, add the shallots, onion and green chilies. Cook till they are golden brown. This should take about 10-12 minutes depending on the type of pot used.

Step 2: Making the Base Masala

Add the tomatoes and cook for about 2 minutes. Tip in the spices and roast for about 30 seconds. This helps in releasing the flavors of the whole and ground spices. Sprinkle some water if the pan gets too hot and the spices start to burn. Add Coconut milk.

Step 3: One Pot Cooking

To this, add the Shrimp, rice and water. Cover and cook for 10-12 minutes till the rice is all fluffy. This can vary depending on your heat, pot and amount of rice. Fluff with a fork and serve hot.

How to serve Shrimp Pulao

This Pulao goes very well with my Onion Raita and some papad. If you are serving a crowd, you can add more dishes like Yellow Dal , Goan Chicken Vindaloo or Indian Butter Chicken Curry , maybe a salad like this Cucumber Peanut Salad and some flatbreads like Roti or Naans