Royyala iguru recipe or prawn stir fry is one of the simplest of the prawns recipes that can be prepared in just 20 mins. This recipe is from my mom and it is almost the same as mushroom curry in andhra style that I posted earlier. These recipes are outstanding due to their simplicity and flavor that comes from the caramelized onions and garam masala.

To make royyala iguru, i don’t use tomato or coconut. This is a dry curry made by stir frying the prawns along with garam masala, red chilli powder until just cooked.
This goes well with plain rice or chapathi. You can make this anywhere from a dry version to a gravy. If you intend to make a dry curry, just evaporate all the gravy by cooking in an open pan. I soak the prawns in vinegar for about 2 to 3 mins and then wash to remove odor. This is optional.
If you are looking for a gravy, check the prawn curry here
For more prawn recipes, you can also check
Chilli prawns
Prawn biryani
Prawns pakoda
Prawn pulao
To make the best tasting prawn stir fry, always use fresh prawns that do not have odor. It is always good to consume fresh prawns and within 2 hours of cooking them.
You can also serve this prawn curry in sandwiches, wraps and kathi rolls.
Do not overcook prawns as they turn hard and rubbery. Switch off when they curl up well, meaning they are just cooked.
Royyala iguru recipe

Royyala iguru
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )
- 250 grams prawns or royyalu
- 2 medium onions chopped finely
- 1 green chili slit or chopped
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- ¼ tsp cumin or jeera
- Salt to taste
- 1/8 tsp turmeric or haldi
- ½ tsp ginger garlic paste + ½ tsp. for marination
- ¼ tsp red chili powder + ¼ tsp. for marination
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice (adjust to suit your taste)
- 1 tsp garam masala powder
- 1 tbsp Coriander leaves chopped
- 1 ½ tbsp oil adjust to suit your taste
Instructions
- Clean and wash prawns. Drain water thoroughly, marinate with ½ tsp. ginger garlic paste, ¼ tsp. red chili powder, little salt and lemon juice. Set this aside till you prepare the rest.
Making royyala iguru
- Heat a pan with oil, add cumin, and curry leaves and green chili. Sauté till the curry leaves turn crisp
- Add onions, sprinkle salt and fry till they turn golden, reduce the flame to minimum (sim), continue to fry till they caramelize. Take care not to burn them.
- Add ginger garlic paste and give a quick stir. Since the onions are already caramelized the ginger garlic can get burnt. Take care
- Add the marinated prawns and fry for 2 to 3 mins
- Add the rest of the red chili powder, turmeric and garam masala. Give a good stir and fry for a min
- Sprinkle some water just enough to bring in some moisture for the prawns to get cooked. I used almost 90 ml water.
- Cover and cook on a medium flame till they are completely cooked. I understand them to be cooked when they curl up and turn pink or orange. If there is more water left, you can evaporate by cooking further without a lid
- Garnish royyala iguru with coriander leaves
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes
For more easy Indian seafood recipes, check
andhra fish fry
indian style baked fish
vanjaram fish fry
tawa fish fry
Ramya Rao says
I started this lockdown with one of your recipes. Chicken biryani today I made this prawn recipe. Every dish turns out to be a winner. God bless
swasthi says
Thanks Ramya
Nora says
I just made it. It smells and tastes good but it didn’t turn out red as yours and didn’t have much gravy. Does this mean I should add more water to it so that it turns into gravy?
swasthi says
Hi Nora
Color comes based on the chili powder used. I used byadgi chili powder.
This is not a gravy recipe. The title says it all – it is a stir fry or dry curry. If you prefer a gravy curry, pls check this prawns gravy
Neil waters says
This is my new favorite meal. Easy and delicious with a good kick.
swasthi says
Thank you
Dinesh Kamath says
Thank you. Its Awesome,.
swasthi says
welcome
Un known says
Which vinegar do u use regurly for recipes?
swasthi says
I use apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
Rituparna Sarangi says
i love this recipes. so yummmmmm
swasthi says
Thanks Ritu
Rituparna Sarangi says
i loved this recipes.wow,so yummmm
NATARAJ GANDHI ARUNACHALAM says
Thank you for the simple and delicious recipe! 🙂
swasthi says
Welcome
Thanks for the feedback. Glad to know you liked it
sharada says
Hi swathi garu
I dont knw how to cook non veg. But my husband loves non veg. So i wanna cook for him. I want to know whether dry praws which we refrigerate can be used for iggaru curry or fresh praws shd be used.
swasthi says
Hello Sharada,
If you want to use dried prawns, you can fry them in oil first and then make the iguru following the above recipe. you need to cook for a little longer to soft cook them. But the problem is while frying they release unpleasant smell. This smell remains in the home for about a day or so. If you don’t mind the smell you can try. But I suggest you to try this iguru with fresh prawns since the taste and nutrition in fresh prawns is higher. hope this helps
sharada says
Thank you swasthi garu for ur response..
Sanoli Ghosh says
Inviting and fabulous prawn curry. Bookmarked it! Your each and every recipe is lipsmacking dear.
Shabbu says
Tempting prawn recipe…yummy..