Crab Masala (Kerala Style) Step by Step

Being a Mallu,my palates are more sensitive to spices...Today lets try a very spicy Kerala Style Crab Masala,which goes well with rice and rotis.I cook them very often,because my hubby just love it......

Ingredients

1. Crab- 1 kg
2. Onions finely chopped- 3 nos
3. Ginger-garlic paste- 1 tbsp
4. Green chillies- 2 nos
5. Chilli powder- 2 tsp
6. Coriander powder- 4 tsp
7. Meat masala - 2  1/2 tbsp (I use eastern meat masala)
8. Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
9. Fennel Powder -1/2 tsp
10. Garam masala- 1/4 tsp
11. Salt - to taste

For tempering

1. Oil-2 tbsp
2. Mustard seeds - 1tsp
3. Shallots-1/2 cup
4. Red chillies -2 nos
5. Curry leaves - 2 springs

For Garnishing

1. Coriander leaves - 1/2 cup (finely chopped)

Method

• Wash the crabs under running water.

• The only toxic part of a crab is the lungs, the feathery cones that line the side of the body. It is important to remove them all. You can throw away the skinny legs too.

• After you do this, scrape out the gooey stuff (trust me it is the real 'taste maker') that is in  the center of the body's two equal solid parts. The greenish stuff is the tomalley, or mustard; it's the liver. You can eat it, and many love this part of the crab.

• Cut them into two equal halves.

• Finely chop the onions,split the green chillies into two halves.Add ginger-garlic paste.

• Heat 2tbsp of oil in a kadai/pressure cooker.Saute the above items well until onions turn tender.

• Take chilli powder,coriander powder,turmeric,meat masala,garam masala and fennel powder in a bowl.

• Add little water and make a thick paste out of it.

• Add this paste to the kadai and leave it to cook for 5mins under low flame.

• Once the powders are cooked add the crab into the cooker/kadai and mix well and cook them until done .

• Once cooked,sprinkle pepper powder and mix everything together .

• For tempering heat some oil in a kadai,sputter mustard seeds,then add shallots,red chillies and curry leaves,saute well for 2 mins.Then transfer it to the vessel containing the crab masala.

 

• Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with rice/rotis/paalappams .