Ingredients
4 crabs
2 onions, finely chopped
1 green chilli, halved
1 tomato, finely diced
1 sprig curry leaves
3 cinnamon bark
1 tsp fennel seed
1 tsp cumin seed
1 tsp coriander seeds
2 tbsp black pepper
2 star anise
4 cloves
4 cardamom pods
3 tbsp fish curry powder
2 tbsp chilli powder
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp fish sauce
1 tsp thick soy sauce (for colour)
1 tbsp chilli paste
salt to taste
4 tbsp vegetable oil

Method

1. Dry roast all the spice ingredients and pound in a mortar and pestle or in a grinder finely.

2. Mix fish sauce, oyster sauce, thick soy sauce and sugar together in a separate bowl.

3. Heat oil in wok. Add onions, green chilli and curry leaves and fry till golden brown.

4. Add chilli paste and saute till paste is cooked or fragrant. Then add curry powder and chilli powder and stir over low heat for about a minute.

5. Add the oyster sauce mixture into the wok. Stir briskly and add crabs and tomato.

6. Add 100-200 ml water and salt to taste and cook covered for 15-20 min or till crab is cooked.

7. If more gravy is desired, add more curry powder and water.