Crab Fry | Nandu Fry | Nandu Masala | Easy Crab Masala Without Coconut

This is an easy to make crab fry with ingredients that will be normally available in any kitchen pantry, just reach for a few of them and you will have a tasty and juicy crab fry!! I got the small variety crabs and so I have not halved them, I have used them whole instead. If in case you are using the bigger ones, just halve them and use them. These kind are not so fleshy like the bigger ones, but they do have some meat and remain juicy and perfectly fit fry/masala recipes. You can just take some bites, chew and melt in its flavors. The recipe is so easy to prepare but makes a great side-dish with rice and rasam or sambar or dal or even fish curry. Just give a try if you are a sea-food lover and am sure you will love it to the core. 

   

INGREDIENTS

Serves 3 people
Total Preparation Time - 15 to 20 minutes

1. Crab - 10 (I used small sized crabs)
2. Big onion - 1 (finely chopped)
3. Tomato - 1 (finely chopped)
4. Lemon - 1 tablespoon 
5. Red Chilli Powder - 1 tablespoon
6. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
7. Salt - As per taste
8. Mustard - 1/4 tablespoon
9. Ginger garlic paste - 1 tablespoon 
10. Oil - 2 spoons 

PREPARATION METHOD

• Clean crab well in water and set aside. (I got the crab shell removed, if you get it whole remove the hard shell and then clean it. You can chop into halves if the crab is big in size and separate the claws. The crabs that I got were smaller and equal in size to the palms of my hand.) 
• Place a wide big kadai/pan on flame and pour 2 spoons of oil into it. After the oil heats up splutter mustard seeds then add finely chopped onions and saute well. Add a pinch of salt optionally to fasten cooking. 
• Once the onions turn golden brown add ginger garlic paste and saute on a low flame until the raw smell leaves. 
• Then add the chopped tomatoes and add salt, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and saute until the tomato gets cooked well and the oil peeps out of the masala.
• Once done add the crab and saute well until the masala gets coated around the crab. Then pour water until the crabs gets immersed well and cook on medium flame until the water content reduces and the crab turns orange in color. This color change indicates that the crab has got cooked well. 
• Remove from flame drizzle some lemon juice and serve hot!!

TIP 1: The crab changes to orange color after it gets cooked perfectly, so this is the basic and easy trick on checking whether the crab has got cooked. 

TIP 2: You can make it spicy or less spicy according to your wish. I have made it slightly spicy. 

TIP 3: If your crabs you are using belongs to the bigger variety then chop them into halves and use them. 

TIP 4: You can make the masala with a little sauce or make them dry according to your wish.

Yummy and juicy crab fry is now ready!!! Tastes great with rice!!!