Crab Chettinad Masala






Ingredients:
4- Blue Crabs
1 cup- Onion, chopped
1/2 cup- Shallots, chopped
1 cup- Tomato, chopped
1 tbsp. Ginger Garlic paste
1 tsp. Turmeric powder
1 tbsp. Red chili powder
4 to 5 Curry leaves
2 tbsp. Lemon juice
2 tbsp. Oil
Salt to taste
Chopped Coriander leaves to garnish
Ingredients to grind:
1 tsp. Cumin seeds
1 tsp. Coriander seeds
1/2 tsp. Poppy seeds
4 to 5- Whole black pepper
1, 1" Cinnamon stick
2- Cloves
1- Bay leaf
10- Fenugreek seeds
3 tbsp. Grated Coconut

Method:
1. Wash and cut the crabs thoroughly.
2. Marinade crabs with salt, turmeric powder and 1/2 tbsp. red chili powder, keep aside for 20 minutes.
3. In the meantime, dry roast the ingredients for grinding as mentioned above till you get a nice aroma.  You need to dry roast the coconut separately to a golden brown color. 
4. Add all the roasted spices in a blender with 3 to 4 tbsp. of water and blend well to a fine paste.
5. Next in a wide bottomed nonstick skillet, heat 2 tbsp. oil add the curry leaves, ginger garlic paste with onions and saute till the onions turn a light golden brown color.
6. Next add the chopped tomatoes and cook till they turn soft, then add the spice paste, with 1/2 tbsp. red chili powder, fry well for a minute or so by constantly stirring until the spices leave oil and you get a nice aroma.
7. Add the crab pieces, mix well with the spices and let fry for 2 to 3 minutes. 

8. Lastly add a cup of water and let cook on medium low heat for 5 to 6 minutes or until the crab is fully cooked.
9. Add 2 tbsp. of lemon juice at the end.
10. Garnish with chopped coriander, serve hot with Rice or Paratha.

Recipe Source