Nandu Varuval | Crab Fry Recipe

 Nandu Varuval...Nandu means Crab in Tamil.This recipe is from my mom's cookbook. Simple,delicious and easy method of cooking crab. I have prepared dry recipe without adding coconut and tomatoes. If you want semi gravy, add tomatoes after  and water accordingly. Extremely spicy dish, so you  have to adjust the spice level to your preference.

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

   Ingredients:

• Crabs - 1/2 kg 
• Onion - 1
• Ginger -1 inch piece
• Garlic - 8- 10 pods
• Chilli powder - 1 tsp
• Coriander powder - 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
• Oil - 2 tbsp
• Salt to taste
• Coriander leaves

For grinding:

• Pepper - 1 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Fennel seeds - 1 tsp

Method:

• Remove the shell of the crabs and clean them thoroughly with little lemon juice and salt.
• Apply little turmeric powder and keep side.
• Grind pepper,cumin seeds and fennel to fine powder.
• Grind ginger garlic,add onion and crush it in pulse mode. keep aside.
• Take oil in a pan,once oil is hot add cloves and cinnamon,add the ground onion paste and saute for few minutes in low flame.Keep stirring until the onion turns golden brown. 
• Add all the masala powders and mix well. Allow it to cook for a couple more minutes.
• Add 1/2 cup water and allow it to boil for 2 - 3 mins.
• Add the crabs and mix well.

         

• Close the lid and allow to cook until the crab is cooked well. Maximum it takes 8 - 10 mins. In between just flip the crabs to the other side.Crabs get cooked soon.
• Switch off stove once you get the prefered thickness.

Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot with rice...