Spicyyyyy Crab Masala - the less known Aphrodisiac dish from Indian kitchen

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Dear foodies and food explorers, today, my blog is about a very popular dish from India - Spicy Crab Masala. Of course, like any popular Indian dish, this too, has different versions in West Bengal, Goa , and in different coastal parts of India.

You need a peaceful mind and relaxing mood to cook it and enjoy it while eating with your partner, family and friends. Not to mention, this is a dish, you must eat with enough time, slowly, preferably using your hands (some times both hands 😃) and in small bites, mixed with White Rice (I prefer Basmati Rice).

It is a debatable fact that the Crab masala, what we all love today, if that originated from Sri Lanka or this is an Indo-Portuguese dish from Goa, which might take us back into 16th Century, when Portuguese came to Goa, India, and ruled for over 400 years, before India took control over Goa in 1961. (History of Goa)

Here is my cooking video (and dedicated to our German friends, we tried to do this in German )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx7iFwE7OnU

RECIPE:

Serving: 6 persons 

Cooking time: 45 mins

Preparation time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Crab: 1.6 kgs

Potato: 600gms

Tomato : 250 gms

Ginger: 50 gms.

Garlic :50 gms

Green  chili: 5-6 pcs.

Lemon( juice): 1/2

Freshly chopped coriander: 50 gms.

Coriander powder: 2tsp

Cumin powder: 2 tsp

Turmeric powder: 4tsp

Kashmiri red Chilli powder: 4tsp

Black pepper (crushed) :1/2 tsp.

Bay leaf:    2-3 pcs.

Cardamom: 8-10 pcs.

Cinnamon : 1 inch

Clove: 8-10 pcs.

Garam masala: 1/2 tsp.

Sugar:  2tsp

Salt: 3-4 Tbsp./ as per the taste

Edible Mustard Oil:  200ml

METHOD:

1.Clean the Crab with lukewarm water. Marinade (Approx - 15 mins) them with 1/2 lemon juice,1and 1/2tsp Turmeric powder, 2tsp kashmiri red chilli powder, 2 Tbsp Mustard oil, 2tsp salt and 1/4tsp sugar.

2.Slice onion finely. Cut the potatoes and chopped tomatoes. You may leave green chilli whole or slit them.

3. Make a paste of ginger, garlic and one green chilli (or you can use ready to use Ginger Garlic paste). 

4. Heat about  4-5 Tbsp Mustard oil in a steel kadai and fry potatoes till 2-3 mins with  1 tbsp   Turmeric powder. Set aside.

5. Add about  another 2-3 Tbsp  oil to the kadai and put marinated crab into it.Fry on medium heat for 3-4 mins (until they turn red) . Set aside.

6. Now add the remaining oil to the Kadai. Temper with Bay leaves, cardamom, cinnamon, clove and 1tsp sugar.

7. Add onions and fry them on medium heat until golden brown. 

8. Add ginger-garlic paste and fry for another 4-5 mins until the raw smell dissipates. Add tomatoes and fry for another 5 mins or until they are soft. At this time, add cumin powder, coriander powder, remaining  kashmiri red chilli powder and cover with the lid. Braise the onions with the spices for few minutes. 

9. Add the fried crabs. Stir for 2 mins and cover and simmer on medium heat for 5 mins.

10. Add the fried potatoes. Cook for a couple of mins before adding water, the remaining salt(according to your taste) and sugar. Cover and simmer on low- medium heat for 15-20 mins.

11. Finish with 1/2 tsp Garam masala, freshly chopped coriander and whole(or slit) green chili. 

12.Crab Masala is ready to serve with steamed Basmati Rice.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/2499f6_3aef85c37e2042fe90e1dcc7079fc731/1080p/mp4/file.mp4