Nandu Masala | Crab Masala

"Nandu (Crab) Masala" is a sea food delight. Crabs are cooked with ginger, garlic, onions, tomato and coconut along with blend of different spices.

This is one of my beloved dish. I have experimented different crab recipes with various combination of spices and this one turned to be the best. So, when cooking with crab, it is important to retain crab flavor when it is cooked with different spices.

I did not get Indian crab to make this recipe, but instead used Alaskan snow crabs. 

Ingredients

 1 kg Alaskan snow crabs or Indian crab
1 tsp Fennel seeds
4 Cloves
2 small sticks of Cinnamon
5 cloves of Garlic
1 small piece of Ginger
4 Green Chilies, finely chopped
1 sprig of Curry Leaves
1 Onion, finely chopped
1 Tomato, finely chopped
1 tsp Red Chili powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
2 tsp Coriander powder
1 cup Coconut, grated
4 Cashew Nuts
5 tsp Oil
Salt

Method

• Soak crab in turmeric water for 30 minutes. Clean the crab just before adding to the masala
• In a heavy bottom vessel, heat oil. Add cinnamon, fennel seeds, cloves, ginger and garlic paste, curry leaves and green chilies. Saute for a minute

• Add Onions and fry until it turns transparent

• Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, and coriander powder. Sprinkle water if masala sticks to the bottom of vessel
• Add tomato and cook for 2 minutes

• In a blender, grind coconut and cashew nut. Pour it into masala. Cook until oil seperates out from the masala

• Adjust salt as per paste
• Add  cleaned crabs to the masala and mix well. Smear masala all over crab so that all flavors are evenly absorbed

• Cover the vessel and cook in medium- low heat setting for 15 minutes 
• Serve hot with steamed rice and lemon wedges

Ocean Perch Fritters

If you are in good mood for sea food, then look out for "Ocean Perch". It is very tasty and tender with lot of moisture. Also, its very healthy and economical and saves your time in cooking.

This recipe is deep-fried and requires marination. The initial steps of this recipe can  be prepared in advance and helps to save your time.

Ingredients

5 Ocean Perch fillets, cut into 2X2 inch pieces with the skin

Oil for deep frying

For Marinade-

1 tsp Fenugreek seed powder

2 Cloves of garlic, minced

1 small piece of Ginger, minced

1 tsp Kashmiri Red Chili powder or Spanish Paprika

1 tsp Rice Flour

1 tsp Oil

Salt

Method

• In a mixing bowl, mix fenugreek seed powder, ginger, garlic, kashmiri red chili powder, oil and salt. 

• Add ocean perch fillets to mixing bowl and mix well

• Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours
• Add rice flour just before deep frying and mix well

• Heat oil for deep- frying in a heavy bottom vessel. Add fish gently to the oil. Fry on both the sides in medium- high heat setting. Use a paper towel to drain excess oil

• Serve hot

Tip-

Instead of refrigerating fish, you can freeze it for later use. Thaw fish just before deep frying. 

Ocean Perch Fry

Very simple recipe flavored with coriander leaves, lemon and spiced with green chilies.

Ingredients

 6 Ocean Perch fillets

1 small bunch of Coriander Leaves | Cilantro

3 Cloves of Garlic

1 inch Ginger

4 Green Chilies

1/4 tsp Turmeric

1/2 tsp Rice flour 

1 Lemon 

Salt

2 tsp Grape seed oil

Method

• Using a blender, make a coarse paste of ginger, garlic, coriander leaves, turmeric, salt and lemon

• To this paste, add rice flour and mix well

• Apply this paste over ocean perch fillets and refrigerate  for 45 minutes

• Heat oil in a pan. Gently place ocean fillets in a greased pan. Pan fry fillets evenly on both the sides

• Serve hot with lettuce salad and lemon wedges

Baked Fish

Looking for healthy dinner!!

A simple blend of fresh herbs and spices transforms tilapia fillets into a mind-blowing feast.

This is a great and healthy meal which is lightly crisp on the outside, tender and juicy inside.

Ingredients

5 Tilapia fillets

2 Green chilies

2 cloves of garlic

1 small piece of ginger

Handful of mint

Handful of Cilantro

1/2 tsp.of cumin powder

1tsp.of extra virgin olive oil

Salt 

Procedure

• Make a paste of  all ingredients except fish fillets
• Apply marinade paste over tilapia fish fillets and refrigerate for 20 minutes
• Place the fillets in a greased baking dish
• Preheat oven to 350C 
• bake fish up to 20 minutes at 300C
• Serve with salad if desired