Njandu pattichularthiyathu / Stir fried Crab

How to clean crab : When you buy crabs always make sure that they are alive and heavy for their size. I am not sure how true it is but folks back home always say that you should not buy crabs following a full moon day . There will be less meat in the crab during that time. The reason behind it being that the crabs get scared of their own shadow as they come out to feed and so hurry back to their hiding places and spend less time eating.

Once you bring the crabs home , the most humane way to kill them is to put them in the freezer for half an hour , or if you can tolerate the sight pour some boiling water on them .They die instantly.

To clean then turn them over so that the white belly side is facing up . The third specimen on the tray below.

Using a knife probe open the flap like part( the second specimen on the tray) and then use your hands to separate the upper shell from the body.
This way you can remove the shell and discard it.
What you have left is the body and the claws .Clean the body by washing it well under running water.Remove the gill like structures cut the body in 2 if needed.
Wash and drain and use for cooking.

Ingredients :

1. crab - 10 cleaned and cut into 2 pieces.
2. Shallots - 1 cup sliced
3. Ginger - 1 inch piece chopped fine
4. Garlic - 8 cloves chopped
5. Kudam puli/cocum - soaked in water (to taste)
6. salt - to taste
7. Oil - 5 tbsp
8. Curry leaves - 2 springs
9. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
10. Chilly powder - 2 tsp
11. Coriander powder - 1.5 tsp

Note : I ground the ginger,garlic,and all the spice powders together - you can either grind them or just add them chopped.

Method:
Cook the crab with the ginger,garlic,shallots, chilly powder,coriander powder,turmeric powder ,salt and cocum water until the crab is cooked and the gravy is evaporated.

Heat oil in a pan and add in the cooked crab and curry leaves stir fry until browned.