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Kankada jhola

AI-drafted · awaiting admin review

Mud crabs cooked in a thick onion, tomato and spice gravy, a speciality of the Chilika and coastal fishing villages of Odisha.

Region: Odisha (Chilika and the coast)Occasion: Weekend and family mealsTime: 1 hourServes: 4Non-vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 1 kg mud crabs, cleaned and halved
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • Salt to taste
  • 4 tbsp mustard oil
  • 2 potatoes, halved
  • 2 onions, ground to a paste
  • 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
  • 2 tomatoes, chopped
  • 1½ tsp red chilli powder
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • ½ tsp garam masala
  • 1½ cups water

Method

  1. Rub the crabs with turmeric and salt and set aside.
  2. Fry the potatoes in mustard oil until golden and remove.
  3. Fry the onion paste until brown, then add ginger-garlic paste and cook for 2 minutes.
  4. Add tomatoes and the powdered spices and cook until the oil separates.
  5. Add the crabs and stir for 5 minutes, then add potatoes and water. Cover and cook for 15–20 minutes.
  6. Finish with garam masala and serve with rice.

History

Mud crabs are caught in the brackish waters of Chilika and in the mangrove creeks of the Odisha coast.

Significance

Crab curry is a treat in coastal Odia homes and roadside eateries near Chilika, and crab catching is a livelihood for many fishing families.

Sources