Peethala Iguru or Crab Curry

Peethala Iguru

(requested recipe)

Ingredients:


Set 1 (marinate all these and keep aside):


Large Crabs - 4 (clean well and do pieces)
Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder - to taste 
Kashmiri chilli powder - 1 tsp


Ginger - 2 inch
Garlic - 1
Fresh grated coconut - 3 tbsp


- grind these three into smooth paste.


Set 2 (roast and powder):


Cloves - 6
Cardamom - 3
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Coriander seeds - 3 tsp
Cinnamon - 1 inch


Set 3:


Oil - for shallow frying as needed
Green chillies - 8 (slit vertically)
Onions - 2 (chop finely)

Poppy seeds - 3 tsp (powder it)

Salt to taste

Spring onion  - katta or bunch (keep white and green seperate and chop)

Coriander leaves - 1 small bunch (chopped finely, for garnishing)

Proceed:

Heat oil in a flat deep nonstick pan, add required oil, once hot on medium heat add sompu 1/4 tsp, green chillies, curry leaves, once fried add chopped onion and white part of chopped spring onion (Set 3) fry well.

After golden brown add crab pieces (Set 1) cook until water which comes out of it,evaporates. Then add 1 glass of water and cook.

Once water reduces and becomes like gravy like consistency, add grinded poppy seed, roasted masala powder (Set 2), coriander leaves and salt to taste and simmer for 10 mins. garnish with remaining part of spring onion.

Translation:

Sompu = Ani seed
Peethalu = Crabs
Nalla Peethalu = Black colored Crabs

Tips to buy Crabs in Kakinada:

Chukka Peethalu (these has tiny sugar crystal size spots on crabs) and Nalla Peethalu are good in taste.


Hope these are correct, or else please enlighten me and my readers. Thanks!

Chukka Peethalu?

is also known as Portunos Pelagicus or Blue Swimmer Crab or Blue crab or Flower Crab

Nalla Peethalu?

is also known as Scylla Serrata or Mangrove Crab or Mud Crab or Black Crab

© 2011 by Rajani Rayudu