Crab masala Kerala Style – Exceptional seafood delicacy of Kerala

Crab meat has a sweet and intense flavour. If you ask me to name my favourite seafood, then it would be a toss up between hot and spicy prawns and crabs. I love them both. My taste buds are so used to the freshwater crab from our good old Aluva, Kerala fish market.

The very first time I heard about the amazing food that is served in toddy shop was from Mangalore, where I was doing my Graduation in Hotel Management. There was a bachelors’ only toddy shop near our college. It is not for the toddy they are there; it is for the spicy and hot food served.

I still remember the crab masala  I had with kappa  (tapioca/cassava) from that toddy shop and it was out of this world!! The toddy shop dishes are hot and spicy and simple preparations.

When I went to buy fish yesterday in Bolton fish market, saw live freshwater crabs there and bought some. So thought of making, this really tasty crab curry. This is for all the hot and spicy food lovers out there.. Enjoy!!

Click below for more kerala fish recipes:

Crab masala – Instructions to cook.

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• Crab – 1 kg (four medium sized)
• Mustard seeds – 1/4 tsp
• Green chillies – 2 (splitted)
• Kashmiri chilli powder – 2 teaspoons
• Onion – 300 gms
• Ginger garlic paste – 3 tsp
• Pepper powder – 2 tsp
• Coriander powder – 2 tsp
• Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
• Tomato – 4 nos (sliced)
• Curry leaves – 2 sprigs
• Coconut oil – 8 tsp
• Garam masala – 2 tsp
• Salt to taste
• Hot water – 3 cups

Method

1. Wash and clean the crabs with water. Cut in to pieces.
2. Heat coconut oil in a pan and add mustard seeds let it splutter and add finely sliced onions. Cook till the onions turn brown.
3. Add ginger garlic paste and chopped green chillies. Cook for a few minutes.
4. Add Kashmiri chilli powder, coriander powder and turmeric powder. Cook for a few minutes.
5. Add sliced tomatoes, salt & curry leaves. Cook for 3 minutes.
6. Add cleaned crabs and mix well. Add hot water.
7. Cover and cook in a low flame for 10 minutes.
8. Cook till the crabs is done and the gravy is almost dried.
9. After 10 minutes add garam masala and pepper powder and mix well.
10. The tasty Kerala crab masala is ready.

Print Pin

5 from 1 vote

Crab masala

Crab Masala Fry is a fragrant medley of spices and aromatics. Its spicy punch is set off deliciously by the sweet crab meat.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian, kerala cuisine

Keyword Crab masala, kerala cuisine, kerala seafood

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 199kcal

Author Sumith Babu

Cost £10

Ingredients

• 1 kg Crab (four medium sized)
• 1/4 tsp mustard seeds
• 2 green chillies (splitted)
• 2 tsp kashmiri chilli powder
• 300 gms onion
• 3 tsp ginger garlic paste
• 2 tsp pepper powder
• 2 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 4 tomato (sliced)
• 2 curry leaves (sprigs)
• 8 tsp coconut oil
• 2 tsp garam masala
• salt ( to taste)
• 3 cups hot water

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Wash and clean the crabs with water. Cut in to pieces.
• Heat coconut oil in a pan and add mustard seeds let it splutter and add finely sliced onions. Cook till the onions turn brown.
• Add ginger garlic paste and chopped green chillies. Cook for a few minutes.
• Add Kashmiri chilli powder, coriander powder and turmeric powder. Cook for a few minutes.
• Add sliced tomatoes, salt & curry leaves. Cook for 3 minutes.
• Add cleaned crabs and mix well. Add hot water.
• Cover and cook in a low flame for 10 minutes.
• Cook till the crabs is done and the gravy is almost dried.
• After 10 minutes add garam masala and pepper powder and mix well. The tasty Kerala crab masala is ready.

Nutrition

Calories: 199kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 634mg | Potassium: 593mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1771IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Vitamin E: 1mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 1mg