Step 1: Prepare the Crabs

Clean and cut the crabs into pieces, ensuring all parts including the legs are ready for cooking. The video shows cleaned crab pieces on a purple plate.

Step 2: Boil the Masala

Place the pre-made Mangalorean masala paste (made from coconut, red chili, and tamarind) in a cooking pot. Add salt to taste and 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder. Bring the masala to a boil over high heat.

Step 3: Add Hing

Once the masala is boiling, add 1/2 teaspoon of hing (asafoetida) to the pot and stir well. Continue to let it boil.

Step 4: Add Crabs and Cook

Add all the cleaned crab pieces, especially the legs first, into the boiling masala. Cook on high heat until the crab pieces turn pink, indicating they are cooked through. This process takes approximately 10-15 minutes.

Step 5: Finish with Coconut Oil

Once the crab pieces have turned pink and the curry has come to a good boil, pour about 2 tablespoons of coconut oil into the curry.

Step 6: Serve

Stir the curry gently, then turn off the gas. The Mangalorean crab curry is now ready to be served hot with plain rice or bhakri.

• Ensure the crabs are thoroughly cleaned before cooking.

• Adjust the spice level of the red chili and tamarind masala to your preference.

• The crab legs are very nutritious and can be bitten to extract the pulp.