An authentic chethinad crab rasam recipe that is so flavourful with freshly ground ingredients.Just roast the ingredients in ghee for 3 mins and grind to smooth paste.For almost all rasam recipes,the base is either tamarind or tomato to bring out the tangy taste.Usually cooked dal is added to enhance the taste,but here crab gives such a nice flavour and taste to the rasam .This rasam tastes great with hot steamed rice or you can just serve it as soup.

PREPARATION TIME: 5 MINS

COOKING TIME :20 MINS

SERVES :4

INGREDIENTS:

7 medium sized crabs

7 shallots

1 tomato

2 tbsp tamarind extract

1/2 tsp fennel seeds

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

Few curry leaves

Few coriander leaves chopped

11/2 cup water

Salt to taste

TO GRIND

2 tsp coriander seeds

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 tsp pepper

2-4 dried red chillies

4 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp fennel seeds

METHOD

Clean and wash the crabs and keep it aside.Roast all the ingredients under ‘To grind’ table and grind it to paste.

Heat oil in a pan,add fennel seeds ,curry leaves and saute for a min.Then add chopped shallots ,tomato and saute for 2-3 mins on medium flame.

Add ground masala and saute for 3 mins on low flame.Then add turmeric powder, tamarind extract,crabs ,water and cook for 12 -15 mins on low flame with a closed lid.Switch off the flame and garnish with coriander leaves.

Serve the Nandu rasam /Crab rasam with hot steamed rice.