One-Pot Shrimp and Tomato Pulao

Updated Sept. 23, 2025

One-Pot Shrimp and Tomato Pulao
Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Brett Regot.
Total Time
1 hour
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
50 minutes
Rating
5(201)
Comments
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This shrimp pulao is a beloved staple in the kitchens of Mumbai’s Parsi community, descendants of Zoroastrians who settled in India after fleeing religious persecution in Iran. Rooted in the rich traditions of South Asian cooking, the dish features familiar elements like cumin, red chile powder and fragrant basmati rice. What truly sets this pulao apart is its unmistakable tang from a bold, savory mix of tomatoes, vinegar, lemon slices and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. That signature sourness balances the gentle sweetness of plump shrimp and caramelized onions, creating a deeply satisfying one-pot meal. Ready in under an hour and easily scalable, it’s perfect for a weeknight dinner or feeding a crowd with minimal fuss. Serve with a cooling raita, alongside dhanshak or all by itself. 

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 1cup basmati rice 
  • 1pound peeled, deveined large shrimp 
  • 1teaspoon Kashmiri red chile powder (or other mild red chile powder)
  • ¾ teaspoon ground turmeric 
  • ¼ cup ghee or neutral cooking oil (such as vegetable or canola)
  • 4whole peppercorns
  • 3whole cloves
  • 1teaspoon cumin seeds 
  • 1medium yellow, white or red onion, thinly sliced 
  • 1½ tablespoons garlic paste or freshly grated garlic  
  • 2 to 3Thai green chiles, chopped
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
  • 3plum tomatoes, chopped
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 
  • 2teaspoons white vinegar
  • 1teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1½ cups chicken stock or water
  • 2tablespoons fresh lemon juice plus 3 lemon slices (from 1 lemon) 
  • 1tablespoon chopped cilantro, for serving
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

473 calories; 16 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 10 grams monounsaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 52 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 6 grams sugars; 31 grams protein; 903 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a bowl, cover the rice with water and set aside to soak. In a bowl, combine the shrimp, chile powder and turmeric, tossing to coat the shrimp.

  2. Step 2

    In a Dutch oven or other heavy pot, heat ghee on medium until melted, about 30 seconds. Stir in the peppercorns, cloves and cumin seeds. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to turn golden, 7 to 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.

  3. Step 3

    Stir in the green chiles and cumin. Add the tomatoes, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 ½ teaspoons pepper, and stir some more. Continue cooking until the tomatoes start to become jammy and the oil separates from the tomato mixture, 5 to 10 minutes.

  4. Step 4

    Stir in the seasoned shrimp, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce, and continue cooking for a few minutes, until the shrimp start to turn pink.

  5. Step 5

    Drain the rice, add it to the pot and stir to coat. Stir in the stock, lemon juice and lemon slices. Turn the heat up to high. Once the liquid is boiling, reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook, undisturbed, for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let the pulao rest, still covered, for 10 minutes.

  6. Step 6

    Uncover and fluff the pulao with a serving spoon. Adjust seasoning to taste, and top with cilantro before serving.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
201 user ratings
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Comments

Wow, was this good! I thought it was perfect the way it was, but I did like another commenter’s suggestion to use more tomatoes and lemon slices and I plan on making a version using those suggestions soon. I live on Cape Fear where we have access to fresh-caught shrimp for much of the year. The cooking method here did not cause the shrimp to become tough or otherwise less appealing. In fact I thought they were pretty perfect. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this recipe to anyone

There is a great New Yorker cartoon by Asher where two guys are in a kitchen, and one says to the other: "This recipe only takes 20 minutes, if you don't count the other time it takes." :)

Easy, wonderful one-pot dish that works perfectly for the weekdays. Do remember to put the lemon slices in as they soak up all the spices. Getting mouthfuls of soft lemon and jammy tomatoes is the experience to have here. I might even suggest adding more tomatoes and lemon slices the next time I make this. It's a keeper!

I like to cook my rice in an instant pot to take out the guesswork. Anybody try adapting this recipe? My guess would be to saute all the spices, peppers and onions in the pot, add the rice, tomatoes, and stock, and cook on the rice setting. Then add shrimp at the end when fluffing and reseal to cook.

I spiced it up with jalapeño chilis, soaked the rice for 45 minutes and waited to add the prawns until it was simmering. Most excellent.

Really tasty. We enjoy spicy food, so next time perhaps a bit more pepper. I used brown rice so cooking time was longer, I added seasoned shrimp about ten minutes before I estimated rice would be done and then brought dish back to low simmer. Otherwise I made according to recipe and yum!

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