Crab Curry

Wednesday, February 13th, 2008

Filed Under Crab, India - Tamil Nadu, Seafood 

Wish you all a fabulous Valentine’s day! Siv and I are not too big into V-day, it is just another occasion to go out and eat. But over the past few years, Valentine’s day has become the worst day to go out for dinner. Every place is crowded, you have to wait for at least half an hour before the table is free even after making reservations. And the worst part is, even the normally good restaurants churn out mass-produced, over-priced crappy food in the name of Valentine’s day prix-fix menu. So this year we’ve decided to forget the whole V-day dinner and get take-out and eat in front of the TV, if we even get back home on time. It’s been a hectic week at work so far for both of us.

But we don’t really need a special day to celebrate romance anyway right? It is the small things that you do for each other every day “just because…” that really counts. Last week when I was down with a cold, Siv made this spicy crab curry that cleared my cold up in no time, that in my opinion is more romantic than any number of roses.

Siv is the crabman in the house, I don’t know (rather, I pretend not to know) how to clean fresh crab. So he cuts, cleans and makes these delicious crab dishes following his mother’s recipe. I have already blogged one of his crab curries, this one is very similar in the list of ingredients, but it is a green chilli based paste and the ingredients are fried before grinding to a paste. It looks and tastes quite different from the other crab curry plus I thought the picture is cute, so here is another Tamil style crab curry recipe. Crab Curry 

Ingredients

  1. 1 large dungeness crab (~3lb with shell)
  2. 8-10 green chilies
  3. 1 tbsp sliced ginger pieces
  4. 10 cloves Garlic sliced
  5. 1 cup shallots sliced
  6. 1 cup grated Coconut
  7. 1 tbsp Cumin
  8. 1/2 tbsp Peppercorns
  9. 1 tsp Fennel seeds
  10. 1″ Cinnamon
  11. Diced onions - 1/4 cup
  12. 2 Tomatoes diced
  13. A few Curry Leaves
  14. Salt
  15. 2 tsp Oil

Method

Clean the crab and cut into 6-8 pieces. Remove the top shell.

Heat 1 tsp oil to a frying pan large enough to cook the crab, and saute the ingredients 2-9 till the shallots starts to brown. Grind the fried ingredients to make a coarse paste.

Add the rest of the oil to the pan. When the oil is hot, add the cinnamon stick and the diced onions and saute till the onions are soft. Add the crab pieces along with the tomatoes and sauté for about three minutes.

Add the ground masala paste to the pan and sauté for another 3minutes.

Add 1/4 cup of water and salt to the pan, cover and cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes.

Serve hot with rice.



Comments

36 Responses to “Crab Curry”

  1. Shella on February 13th, 2008 9:42 pm

    Love crab anyday. I am surely going to coax my mom into making some very soon, n will also be posting her recipe. The one she makes is typically mallu-ishtyle n tastes awesome n peppery!! Great stuff. Give a :(Yes): to Siv for being able to make this lovely seafood.

    Thanks Shella… I love the mallu version too, never made it though!

  2. Srivalli on February 13th, 2008 10:12 pm

    Thats a cool pic sig…I have never cooked crab…hubby is not a crab man..:D…Amma also never prepares it..but once Dad got them, so we got it prepare by the help. It smelled awesome…I think thats the tamilan way..

    Thanks srivalli… :) crab does have a really nice smell…

  3. Swati Jain:Sugarcraft India on February 13th, 2008 10:42 pm

    A lovely picture !!
    Siv seems to be a great cook…so sweet of him to cook for you especially when you are unwell.. :(Yes): to Siv

    Thanks Swati… He is indeed a great cook… and is ready to cook even when I am not sick… but I love to cook, so I try to keep him away from the kitchen as much as I can ;)

  4. Nags on February 13th, 2008 11:01 pm

    ooooh nice. never tasted one let alone eat! i recently for a buffet dinner and they had crab. i couldn’t break the shell so ended up having just the gravy!

    :) You should get your own crab cracker and keep it in the handbag for such emergencies… I know you love seafood, then you will love crab…

  5. Uma on February 13th, 2008 11:41 pm

    Hi Sig,

    Happy Valentine’s Day to you too. :(Flower): Thanks. Nice picture. :smile:

    Thanks Uma! :)

  6. sia on February 14th, 2008 12:52 am

    Siv is the crabman in the house, I don’t know (rather, I pretend not to know) how to clean fresh crab.
    LOL sig… we do share some ‘qualities’ ;) even we dont celebrate v-day. krish didn’t even remember to wish me and i dont think i am even worries abt it. if it was my b’day or our anni it would have been a different story all toghter. :evil:
    wishing u both a very happy v-day. :(Flower):

    :D hehe great minds and all that, eh? Thanks for the wishes sups, hope you and Krish had a great day!

  7. sunita on February 14th, 2008 3:07 am

    Sig, I’m, with you on the V-day…it is indeed the little things that you do for each other that counts…have a good day though :smile:

    :) Thanks Sunita, hope you had a great day too!

  8. Asha on February 14th, 2008 5:09 am

    Arvind didn’t even remember today is V day!!:P

    Crab looks yum, never eaten it. I have heard that Crab and butter goes well together!

    :) It is soo hard to miss V day though, with all the red hearts everywhere we turn around… :) You already cooked fish, next step is Crab Asha…

  9. indosungod on February 14th, 2008 5:20 am

    Sig, you lucky gal, love crab and that looks delicious. Pat on the back for Siv.Can you ask Siv to post a small how-to on cleaning them please please.

    He said it is pretty easy to clean… we get it cut from the butcher, he just has to scrub the shells off I think… but next time we get crab, I will photograph the process… :)

  10. Meeta on February 14th, 2008 5:21 am

    We’re not big on V day either. I prefer a nice dinner at home with my two men. I love your crab curry it looks so HOT! 8-10 chilies that should go down with my runny nose well and clear it up for a while LOL!

    Sorry to hear that you are sick Meeta… Yep, you need some spicy stuff to clear those snuffy nose… wish I could send you some crab curry :)

  11. sra on February 14th, 2008 5:27 am

    Now give me the crab all minus the shell and I will eat - I’ve tried eating it shell on more than a couple of times for a better appreication but am deciding it’s not worth the trouble.
    And I agree with you on what’s really romantic! :(Flower):

    :) I avoid eating crabs with shell in restaurants, because it gets really messy…. even with the crab cracker… but at home who cares, I have good strong teeth… :) And It is totally worth the trouble by the way…. You have to give it another chance… :)

  12. Kalai on February 14th, 2008 5:51 am

    I love crab, Sig! You’re so right about it being the little things that count… Thanks so much for this lovely recipe and a huge thanks to your husband for being sweet enough to make it!

    Happy V-day! :(Flower):

    Thanks Kalai… :)

  13. rachel on February 14th, 2008 6:00 am

    Oh no! I was expecting a post on your V’day dinner!! Just kidding…Like many others…it’s just another day for us!

    I love crab in any form……enjoy it more when its spicy!

    :) yep, no vday dinner post this year… Spicy crab is indeed the best way to have crab, but crab cakes are pretty awesome too… :)

  14. richa on February 14th, 2008 6:18 am

    so sweet of siv to make that for ya!
    true, it gets very tough on such occasions to get a decent table, loooooong wait time :???:

    yeah, it is totally not worth it… any day can be V-day right? :)

  15. Happy Cook on February 14th, 2008 6:57 am

    Sig evven we don’t celebrate valentines day. I just think it is so ho ha for today . And i do agree you don’t need a one certain day to celebrate.
    Last time i ate crab was when i was back at home. I neve make them here and anyways i dont know how to clean them etc…
    Looks so good.

    :) You have to get the husband to do the cleaning Happy Cook, it is okay to act like a damsel in distress when it comes to dirty jobs like this ;)

  16. Mona on February 14th, 2008 7:10 am

    Sig, can you also post sometime, the step by step method to clean the crab? Please! I always wish to try crab every time i see it in the market, but i have no idea what do with a crab to prepare it to be cooked. Thanks.. :smile:

    Sure Mona… Next time we get crab, I will get the step by step pics and instructions :)

  17. swaroopa on February 14th, 2008 7:20 am

    looks gr8! thanx 4 sharing…

    Thanks Swaroopa!

  18. Pravs on February 14th, 2008 8:27 am

    Crab anytime for me :drool: Indeed, small things like these mean a lot :grin: Happy valentines day to you both.

    :) Thanks Pravs!

  19. Laavanya on February 14th, 2008 8:28 am

    I’ve probably said this before.. but you both are such a loving couple.

    oooh, thanks Laav… :)

  20. Mishmash! on February 14th, 2008 8:31 am

    crab curry….hmm….unfortunately its lunch time here and you have no idea how much i love this!!!!!

    :) you have tortured me enough during breakfast, lunch and dinner Shn… its payback time :)

  21. anuzi on February 14th, 2008 8:31 am

    Sig
    You are so lucky that Siv cooks when you are sick. Especially something as yummy as this spicy crab. And I totally agree with you about how V-day nights restaurants getting over packed. So Bhatji and I usually do ours over the weekends or a few day past v-day. It was sooo sweet of you to drop by and leave such kind words on my blog. Thanks much darling!! Happy V-day to you and Siv :grin:

    Yeah, it is a great idea to sit the day out and celebrate another day… I really enjoyed my visit, you have a great blog :)

  22. Revathi on February 14th, 2008 10:24 am

    Can you please please post about how to clean crabs. I get these wonderful alive and kicking blue crabs and I love crabs so much - but dont know how to clean it. :cry:

    And yes crabs are the best cure to cold.. just will clear up the sinus !!

    As I told Indo and Mona, I will post the pictorial soon… we get the large dungeness crab, I think blue crab will be harder to clean, since those are tiny :) BTW, if you have a malaysian restaurant in the area, you must have the dry curry crab from there… I have never had bad crab in a malay restaurant. :)

  23. Rina on February 14th, 2008 10:47 am

    Can’t wait to grab that crab… :cool: Love the picture… Did you start using your B’day gift Nikkon Cam? Happy Valentine day to you too. :(Flower): :(Martini):

    I make crab similar with a twist. Love to try your twist. :razz:

    I have always had a Nikon camera Rina, the gift was some accessories, and no, I haven’t started using those yet :( I am a lazy bum…
    Would love to see your version of the crab curry sometime.

  24. Padmaja on February 14th, 2008 10:51 am

    hey hey Thats wonderful and what you said is very true!! Understanding each other and doing things for each other is something to treasure!! and u know Sig, Rocky came over yest (@8:00pm) with a box and chocs and a card and a huge grin on his face, saying he did remember getting something for valentines? and I am like what?? its still 13th??? Anyway it was so shweet of him to get a day early!!
    Btw I forgot to say that those lovely crabs look so spicy!!

    ooooooooh, how romantic… :) Who cares if he got the day wrong… that was a nice gesture… :) Hope u guys had a great V-day as well.. :)

  25. musy on February 14th, 2008 11:59 am

    Hey Sig, i completely agree with you! Its those sweet lil’ things that you do for each other every now and then, that matter most! Enjoy the dinner together in front of the TV, girl! Its one of the best ways to relax after a long day :)

    The gravy base sounds really yummy, fennel seeds and coconut: gotta try this sometime. So, you really don’t know how to clean crabs, Sig :-D

    hugs,
    musical.

    Yep, we had a relaxing day in front of the TV, actually it became TVs after a while, since we both like totally different shows :) .. Hope you had a great day too…. Have a great weekend sweetie!

  26. mandira on February 14th, 2008 1:10 pm

    I am yet to try eating a crab curry, but if I had a plate of that… yum. Enjoy the delicious Valentine Dinner!

    Thanks Mandira…. and you must try crab curry…. you guys make all those delicious fish dishes, now you have to make crab too… :)

  27. A-kay on February 14th, 2008 1:29 pm

    Take care girl. Hope you are feeling better.

    Thanks A-kay… I was cured within a couple of days… guess the crab did the trick :)

  28. shilpa on February 14th, 2008 6:16 pm

    Hey Sig…Can you ask Siv if he will make it for me if I clean the crabs??? It looks sooo yummy…I am a crabwoman :D. I just love love them…. :drool:

    :) I will make it for you if you can clean the crab Shilpa… that is the part I hate :D

  29. Nirmala on February 14th, 2008 10:07 pm

    Thats so nice of Siv. I am big lover for Crab and this looks like my amma’s version. You have made me drool Sig and now I have to pester amma for one such curry for this weekend! Wishing you many more happy sharing moments to you both!

  30. Raaga on February 15th, 2008 3:28 am

    The last time I ate crab was the day before I resolved not to eat non veg anymore :-) Dec 1997 :-) that is so long ago :-) but believe me, the crab wasn’t the reason…

    yeah… we like to stay home on these Hallmark Days :-)

    I don’t know the story behind you quitting non-veg!!!!! Now I really want to know, you know how nosy I am :)

  31. jayashree on February 15th, 2008 3:31 am

    crab curry looks good ..although iam not abig fan of crabs either…
    doing small things for each other makes life so beautiful ..That is the most important thing …
    enjoy it Sig ..
    and take care…
    hugs and smiles

    :) thanks Jayashree!

  32. sukanya on February 15th, 2008 7:23 am

    This is so mouthwatering…. :drool: nice recipe..

    Thanks Sukanya!

  33. reshma on February 15th, 2008 10:21 am

    am a self-proclaimed crab fanatic and amd bookmarking this curry. looks too good!

    :) thanks Reshma.. .from a fellow crabby :)

  34. Miri on February 16th, 2008 3:08 am

    Yup, we stopped going out for Valentines sometime back too…..this year my brother suddenly flew into town on work for a couple of days so the three of us went out for dinner. Mind blowing Bong food and lovely catching up after such a long time…and yes, we had lots of crab :)

    I never make crab at home , don’t know how to buy, clean or cook - so envy you! that looks like a lovely dish - filled with love! :)

  35. sagaribeautiful pic sig on February 16th, 2008 10:54 am

    dont eat crab but pic looks yumm

  36. Homecooked on February 18th, 2008 2:40 am

    Wow…this looks absolutely amazing.I love crab curry but as is the case with you,I dont know how to clean them :( Brought back fond memories.

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