Crab Green Masala
Crab Green Masala
Ingredients
For the Green Masala Paste
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup mint leaves, roughly chopped
- 2 green chilies, or to taste, stemmed
- 1 inch ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 cup water, as needed for grinding
For the Crab Masala
- 2 pounds blue crabs, cleaned and cut into halves or quarters
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 onion, medium, finely chopped
- 10 curry leaves
- 1/2 cup coconut milk, full-fat
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 cup water, or as needed
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the green masala paste: In a blender or food processor, combine the fresh cilantro, mint leaves, green chilies, ginger, garlic cloves, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, black peppercorns, turmeric powder, and lemon juice. Add 1/4 cup of water and blend until a smooth, vibrant green paste forms. Add more water if necessary, 1 tablespoon at a time, to achieve a smooth consistency.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
⏱️ 7 min
- 3
Add the curry leaves to the pot and sauté for another minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min
- 4
Stir in the prepared green masala paste. Cook the paste for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the raw smell disappears and the oil starts to separate from the masala.
⏱️ 7 min
- 5
Add the cleaned and cut crab pieces to the pot. Toss well to coat the crab evenly with the green masala. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the crab shells start to turn orange.
⏱️ 4 min
- 6
Pour in the coconut milk and 1/2 cup of water. Add salt to taste. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cover the pot and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until the crab is fully cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly. The cooking time will depend on the size of the crab pieces.
⏱️ 12 min
- 7
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro before serving.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Serve hot with steamed rice or Indian bread.
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Crab Green Masala
For the Green Masala Paste
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup mint leaves, roughly chopped
- 2 green chilies, or to taste, stemmed
- 1 inch ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 cup water, as needed for grinding
For the Crab Masala
- 2 pounds blue crabs, cleaned and cut into halves or quarters
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 onion, medium, finely chopped
- 10 curry leaves
- 1/2 cup coconut milk, full-fat
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 cup water, or as needed
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the green masala paste: In a blender or food processor, combine the fresh cilantro, mint leaves, green chilies, ginger, garlic cloves, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, black peppercorns, turmeric powder, and lemon juice. Add 1/4 cup of water and blend until a smooth, vibrant green paste forms. Add more water if necessary, 1 tablespoon at a time, to achieve a smooth consistency.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Add the curry leaves to the pot and sauté for another minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min - 4
Stir in the prepared green masala paste. Cook the paste for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the raw smell disappears and the oil starts to separate from the masala.
⏱️ 7 min - 5
Add the cleaned and cut crab pieces to the pot. Toss well to coat the crab evenly with the green masala. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the crab shells start to turn orange.
⏱️ 4 min - 6
Pour in the coconut milk and 1/2 cup of water. Add salt to taste. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cover the pot and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until the crab is fully cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly. The cooking time will depend on the size of the crab pieces.
⏱️ 12 min - 7
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro before serving.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Serve hot with steamed rice or Indian bread.