Njandu – Urulakizhangu Varutharachathu / Crab and Potato Curry with Roasted Coconut

Ingredients:

4-5 medium crabs, cleaned
2 potatoes
1 piece ginger ( 1 tbsp) , chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
3-4 green chillies, slit
1 onion, sliced
5 shallots
1 cup grated coconut
5-6 peppercorns
2 cardamoms
2 piece of cinnamon
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1 1/2-2 tsp chilli powder
2 sprig curry leaves
salt to taste
1 1/2 tbsp coconut oil

Preparation:

1. Cut the crab into pieces and clean it and keep it aside. Peel and chop potatoes into cubes.
2. Heat a pan and dry roast the grated coconut with peppercorns, cardamoms and cinnamon till brown.
3. Switch off and then grind it to a fine paste adding little water and keep it aside.
4. In a clay pot or pan and add cleaned crabs,  2 tsp chopped ginger, 2 chopped garlic, 1-2 slit green chillies, 1/2 sliced onion, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, 2 tsp coconut oil, cubed potatoes, curry leaves and salt and mix well.
5. Then add enough water to cook and cook it covered till done.
6. Heat 1 tbsp oil in another pan and add remaining ginger, garlic, green chillies, onion, shallots and curry leaves and saute till light brown.
7. Add 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, coriander powder and chilli powder to this and mix well.
8. Add cooked crabs along with potatoes and required water and mix well. Adjust the salt and allow it to boil.
9. Then add the ground coconut paste, mix well and cook it for about 5-7 minutes on medium flame.
10. Add little coconut oil on top and remove from flame…Serve hot