Crab Pepper Masala

Ingredients

• 1/2 kg crab, cleaned (நண்டு)
• 2 onions, chopped (வெங்காயம்)
• 2 green chillies, chopped (பச்சை மிளகாய்)
• 2 tomatoes, chopped (தக்காளி)
• 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste (இஞ்சி பூண்டு விழுது)
• 1 tsp fennel seeds (சோம்பு)
• a little turmeric powder (மஞ்சள் தூள்)
• 2 tsp black peppercorns (மிளகு)
• 3 tsp fresh coconut, grated (தேங்காய் துருவியது)
• as needed salt, curry leaves (உப்பு, கறிவேப்பிலை)
• as needed coriander leaves (கொத்தமல்லி)
• 2 tsp coconut oil (தேங்காய் எண்ணெய்)
• 1/2 tsp garam masala (கரம் மசாலா தூள்)

Method

1. Clean the crab and cook it promptly.
2. Heat oil, temper curry leaves, then saute green chillies, ginger-garlic paste, onion and tomato in turn.
3. Add turmeric, chilli powder and salt with a little water and simmer into a masala.
4. Grind the fennel, pepper and coconut to a paste, add to the masala and simmer 5 minutes.
5. Add the crab, toss, cover and cook on medium heat about 15 minutes; finish with garam masala and coriander.

Adapted from பேலியோ ஆரோக்கிய சமையல் (Paleo Arokkiya Samaiyal) by Rtn Kannan Azhagirisamy, page 14. Method rewritten in our own words; ingredient quantities follow the book, with gram weights estimated for the nutrition figures. The book thanks the Arokkiya Unavugal (Healthy Foods) Facebook group and tamilpaleorecipes.com.