Preparation Time : 2 hours for marination + 20 minutes
Cooking Time : 15 to 20 minutes
Serving : 6 members
Description
A recipe l got from my hubby’s cousin sister fathima, who attended a cooking class in Colombo , Sri Lanka . The original recipe demanded an egg to be added in the end. I just didn’t do so because i felt the dish might end up getting an eggy smell . I used to prepare crab in another two different ways , one tomato based and the other pepper based(Both Indian Style). But once i tried this dish, the other two dishes are put to rest . As this preparation is fragrant , visually appealing and almost magical . At home my father-in-law, my son, my hubby’s niece and myself are the only people who eat crab . My hubby admire’s me while i eat the crab(As i separate the shells and flesh very easily) . On my last trip to moms place, mom made some crab cakes (vadai’s) . My hubby had quite a few not knowing it was crab as it was deliciously wicked. When we let him know about it, later in the evening, he was all grumpy and wild . People and their mind set specially when it comes to food .
Ingredients
Ingrredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Crab 1 kg | cleaned |
| Small onions | two hands full |
| Dry Red whole chilies | 8 to 10 or to taste |
| Ginger | 1 inch piece |
| Garlic | 6 flakes |
| Turmeric powder | 1 / 4 teaspoon |
| Salt | to taste |
| Oil | 1 1/2 cups |
| Tomato sauce | 3 tablespoons |
| Light Soya sauce | 1 teaspoon |
| Sweet chilli sauce | 1 teaspoon |
| Red chilli sauce | 1 teaspoon |
| Ajinomoto | a pinch ( optional ) |
| Sugar | a pinch |
Method
- Add salt and turmeric powder along with 2 cups water to the cleaned crab and bring to boil . strain and cool completely .
- Grind small onion , red whole chilies , ginger and garlic to a coarse mixture .
- Marinate cooled crab in this coarse mixture for 2 hours . Heat oil to shallow fry and fry just the crab without the marinated mixture for 5 minutes .
- Drain and set aside . Heat 4 tablespoons of crab fried oil in a non stick kadai .
- Fry the coarse onion mixture to brown till the onions sweat down and become soft .
- Top with tomato sauce , light soya sauce , sweet chilli sauce , red chilli sauce , sugar , ajinomoto and salt to taste.
- Mix well and bring to boil adding little water to get to a saucy consistency .
- Taste and adjust seasoning . Add the fried crab .
- Toss well and close with a lid and simmer for 5-8 minutes , tossing every 2 minutes once . Making sure the sauce infuse its flavours into the crab . Serve hot as it is .
