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Pineapple Prawn Curry (Udang Masak Lemak Nenas) - Packed with flavor and aroma from the spices, and sweetness from the prawn and pineapple. Easy recipe!
Udang Masak Lemak Nenas
Please welcome Nyonya Pendek Melaka, also known as Petite Nyonya as a guest writer today.
Nyonya Pendek Melaka is a wonderful food blog with many delicious and authentic Nyonya recipes. Today, she shares with us her family’s udang masak lemak nenas recipe, or pineapple prawn curry. I tried out this classic Melaka Nyonya recipe and absolutely loved it. Enjoy!
Guest writer: Nyonya Pendek Melaka (Petite Nyonya)
When I started looking into food blogs, Rasa Malaysia was one of the first few I stumbled upon and was in full admiration for. When Bee launched Nyonya Food, I was really glad to see it takes shape as a focused tribute to our rich culinary heritage.
Thus, I was honored and delighted to receive an invitation from Bee to be a guest writer on Nyonya Food and contribute to it. I just don’t seem to be cooking Nyonya dishes as often as I should unless I am back in my hometown for family gatherings, so this invitation is just perfect!
Bee also requested if I could prepare a dish that is synonymous with the Peranakan household in Melaka. While there are many similarities with Peranakan food in Melaka (where I’m from) and Penang (where Bee’s from), there are a few distinct signature dishes exclusive to or more favored in each of these two Malaysian states…
The dish that I have presented here is very popular and much loved by many Peranakan families in Melaka, as well as in Singapore—as a result of my hometown’s influence due to its geographical proximity to the island nation.
Called Udang Masak Lemak Nenas or Pineapple Prawn in Spicy Coconut Milk Gravy, it was often prepared for Chinese New Year family reunion dinners, at any other family gatherings and for prayers to the deceased relatives on special prayer months.
Now, we cook it as and when the palate craves for it or when friends come over for a Peranakan food feast. Below is my family’s recipe taught by my deeply missed late Mom to my sisters and I.
It is packed with flavor and aroma from the spices, and sweetness from the prawn and pineapple. Serve it with plain white rice is the best, and it will never fail to whet one’s appetite!
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe is only 271 calories per serving.
What To Serve With Pineapple Prawn Curry
For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
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Pineapple Prawn Curry (Udang Masak Lemak Nenas)
Ingredients
Part I:
- 15 to 20 dried chillies, cut, discard seeds and soak in hot boiling water for 20 mins
- 10 to 12 shallots
- 4 pips garlic
- 2 candlenuts
- 2 stalks lemongrass, use the pale part about 4 inches from the base
- 1 in (2.5cm) turmeric
- 1/2 in (1cm) galangal
- 1 tablespoon Asian shrimp paste, belacan
Part II:
- 1 litre water
- Half of a ripen pineapple, but not too over ripe, cut into 1.5 inch pieces
Part III:
- 250 ml thick coconut milk
Part IV:
- 10 to 12 large prawns with shell intact
Instructions
- Blend all the ingredients in Part I to form a paste. Heat 3/4 cup of oil in a wok or pan and sauté the paste until it becomes drier and fragrant. Transfer the sautéed paste to a cooking pot and add the ingredients from Part II. If the gravy is too thick, you can add a little more water. Allow it to simmer for about 15 minutes until the sweetness from the pineapple is released into the gravy
- After that, pour in Part III and let it come to a boil for 2-3 minutes. Then, add the washed prawns and let it boil until they are cooked through. Turn off the heat and serve hot with a plate of rice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The food is tasty with sambal belachan.
Hi Eric, thanks for trying my recipe and for the 5-star rating! :)
Delicious 😋 especially with sambal belachan, and hot rice.
Yes, thanks for your comment!
Cut down the amount of chillies because one of the guests can’t take too spicy. Tastes great anyway :) . This is the third time I made this and it gets rave reviews every time!
Hi,
If I don’t have fresh turmeric, can I replaced with turmeric powder? If yes, how much?
Yes.
Turned out great! Thanks a lot !
Just one question, my prawns were not crunchy. Could I cook the gravy the night before a party I find this helps the flavours to develop well – and then add the prawns and boil for a short while just before serving it?
Look fw to your reply thanks
You overcooked the prawn. Yes, you can add and cook the prawn right before serving.
Turned out great! Thanks a lot !
Just one question, my prawns were not crunchy. Could I cook the gravy the night before a party I find this helps the flavours to develop well – and then add the prawns and boil for a short while just before serving it?
Look fw to your reply thanks
I wonder if you peel your galangal before blending the rempah, as it has a thin layer of skin, but it’s not as thick as the skin of a ginger.