Kosha Crab - Crab Curry

Abbas had never tasted crab till we tied the knots! My in-laws never ate and that's the reason it was never cooked at home. When they weren't there at home, we both went out to the fish market on a Sunday and brought crabs. One SOS call to my Kakima and she explained me the procedure to clean it and cook it the Bong way. Coz I was sure Abbas wouldn't like crabs had I made it the Amchi way with coconut in the gravy. The crab curry turned out finger licking good. One of his friends turned up that day and we served him this Crab Kosha. He too was bowled over... 

Ingredients:

Crab – 1 kg

Tomatoes – 2 medium sized, chopped

Potatoes – 5-6 medium sized, peeled and cut into halves.

Turmeric powder – 1 tsp

Salt – to taste

Oil – 2-3 tbsp

To grind to a paste:

Onion – 3 medium sized

Ginger – 2” piece

Garlic – 7-8 pods

For the masala powder:

Red chillies – 10-15

Coriander – 1 tbsp

Cumin – 2 tsp

Cardamom – 2-3

Cloves – 4-5

Cinnamon – 1” stick

Method:

1. Clean the crabs and wash thoroughly. Click here to see a step by step pictorial of how to clean crabs.

2. Dry roast the ingredients called for under the masala powder head and grind them to a fine powder. ( I microwave the masalas instead on high for a min)

3. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed vessel. Add a tsp of salt and a pinch of turmeric powder. Drop in potato pieces on a high flame. Stir for 2-3 mins. Lower the flame and cook covered till the potatoes turn golden on all sides. Remove them from the oil and keep aside.

4. Boil the crabs and potatoes in enough water with a pinch of turmeric powder and salt.

5. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed vessel, add onion-ginger-garlic paste and saute till raw smell goes.

6. Add chopped tomatoes and saute till mushy..

7. Now combine the crabs, potatoes and the masala powder. Add water to suit your desired consistency. You may adjust salt at this stage. 

8. I would recommend that this dish be prepared well ahead coz it tastes better and better the more it stands.