Khekda Rassa is a crab curry which is my mom’s speciality made with fresh crabs, coconut and roasted garam masala paste. It is a Malvani cuisine speciality and loved by mostly all Mumbaikars. The crabs used in this recipe are lakheche khekde which means the crabs have eggs in them which adds to the flavor of the curry.

Khekda/Crab Curry Recipe

Ingredients
6 crabs/khekda (lakheche)
1 cup dessicated dry coconut
1 cup dessicated wet coconut
1 medium size onion
4 cloves of garlic
1 inch ginger
whole garam masala-1 tbsp coriander seeds, 4-5 black pepper, 2 cardamom pods, 2 cloves, 1 small cinnamon piece
1 tbsp garam masala
2 tbsp red chilli powder
1 tsp turmeric
salt as per taste
coriander leaves for garnishing

Method
Wash crabs properly. Cut one crab into two. Separate legs from the crab. Keep them aside.
Except crabs and red chilli powder/turmeric powder, roast all the above mentioned ingredients until pinkish in color. Grind it into a paste.
Heat oil in a pan.
Add the ground paste, saute it well. Add red chilli powder and turmeric powder. Sautee until the masala leaves oil.
Add warm water as per your need of curry.
Once the curry starts boiling, add salt and the crab legs. Let it boil for 10 minutes.
Now add the remaining crabs delicately. Do not stir the curry. Cover it and let it cook for 5 mins on slow gas.
Now cook it on high flame for 5 mins. Switch off the gas and add coriander leaves for garnishing.

Fish fry used to be mandatory along with any fish/crab curry in my household since childhood. One of my favorite fish fry is Surmai Fish Fry. I am visiting mom’s place in Mumbai and she made this lip smacking Surmai Fish Fry yesterday. Here is the recipe.

Surmai/ Seer Fish Fry Recipe

Ingredients
5-6 pieces of surmai sliced
2 tbsp kokum juice
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp chilli powder
1/2 cup rice flour
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
salt as per taste
Oil for frying

Method
Wash surmai pieces properly.
Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, kokum juice, ginger garlic paste, salt to the fish and mix well.
Let it marinate for 15-20 minutes
In a pan heat oil.
In the rice flour, add some turmeric powder, red chilli powder and salt. Mix well.
Now coat the marinated fish with rice flour mixture.
Fry each fish separately.
Surmai fry is ready.

Mahim Fish Market is my favorite place to buy fresh fish. I wrote a post about it. You can read it here.