Crab Curry(Malabar Style)

Ingredients

5-6 crabs

2-3 green chillies

1 inch ginger

1 tomato

1 tablespoon oil

4-5 shallots 

2 cloves

1 teaspoon fennel seed(perumjeerakam)

1 small piece cinnamon stick

1 cardamon

3/4 cup coconut

4-5 pepper corns

few curry leaves

salt to taste

preparation method

1.Take 5-6 crabs,clean them properly and cut each into 2 pieces

2.Cut shallots into square pieces. also cut ginger and green chillies, either u can make a paste or cut them into square pieces.

3.Take a wok or man chatti (i could not do in man chatti b'coz my crabs where too congested in them)

4.Pour 1 table spoon oil and add 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds.after that add shallots,green chillies,ginger and saute them till the raw smell disappears or till the  shallots turn golden brown.

Add tomatoes and saute them for a minute and then reduce the flame and add 2 table spoon coriander powder,1 teaspoon red chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder.saute them till raw smell is gone and add 1 cup of water and add the crabs...cook for about 15 min approx.

for making coconut paste

5.Take 3/4 cup coconut and take a small pan and pour oil(1-2 tablespoon)

6.Add 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds,2 cloves,1 cardamom,1 small piece of cinnamon,4-5 pepper corns and add the coconut..

7.Saute them till the coconut turns dark brown( should be careful not to burn the coconut as after a certain time it turns its color too fast. If you are using high flame you should always watch it and stir continuously)shift the contents to a plate.

8.Once roasted coconut cools down...it should be Luke warm, grind it and make it a thin paste

9.Add this to the crab which is cooking and slowly reduce the flame.. add salt as desired and don't forget to add the curry leaves

(p.s: you can make the desired changes, if you feel its not hot, you can add an extra teaspoon of chilli powder or reduce as desired, i like my curry hot)