Crab Sukka( Crab Dry)

Today I made Crab sukka. Its a Mangalore Style of preparing Crab using whole spices and coconut. Its a dry dish hence goes well as a starter or a side dish with rice and curry. In Bangalore its hard to find crab often. Luckily the fellow who gets fish for us gets crab once in a while and we all relish the crab to the last bite.
Ingredients :

• 1 Kg of crab ( round about 5 to 6 medium size crab)

For Seasoning:

• 1 tbsp Oil
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• Some Curry leaves
• 1 large Onion (sliced)
• 1 tsp Tamarind Paste (small lemon size tamarind soaked in 1 cup of water)

For Grinding :

• 2 tbsp Coriander seeds (Dhaniya)
• 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds  (Jeera)
• 1 1/2 tsp Poppy seeds (khuskhus)
• 1/4 tsp Fenugreek seeds ( methi seed) (dont add more it will turn bitter)
• 1/4 tsp Mustard seeds  
• 10 to 12 Kashmiri Chillies
• 4 to 5 pods of Garlic 

• 1/2 cup grated Coconut

How to prepare:

1. Clean the crab neatly and cut the crab if it is large in size (refer the pic). Drain and keep it aside

  2. Take a large size kadai or deep pan. Heat oil, then add seasoning of mustard seeds once it starts to splutter add curry leaves.

3. Add sliced onion and fry. No need to brown it just when it turns pink add the washed and drained crab.
4. Now mix tamarind paste in 1 cup of water, dissolve salt (as per taste) and pour it over crab and close the lid

5. Let it cook for about 15 to 20 mins occasionally turning it. Don't forget to close the lid since we have added little water the crab cooks due to steam.
6. Now when the crab is getting cooked take another pan and dry fry or roast without oil all the ingredients for grinding except coconut on a low flame for abt 2 to 3 mins. A nice aroma will tell u its done. Let it cool.

7. Grind the roasted ingredients into powder.

8. Now fry coconut in the same pan till golden brown on low heat.

9. Once the crab is cooked add the powdered masala to the crab. Mix well.
10. Now grind fried coconut coarsely and add it to the crab. Mix well and if any water is left over let it dry while stirring over high flame.
11. Enjoy your Crab Sukka :)

Courtesy: My Mom :)

Chocolate Brownie Cake

This cake I made for my Husband on behalf of my 3 year old Daughter for the Fathers day. This cake is an extension of the previous recipe by adding chocolate coating.

Ingredients:
A brownie cake (prepared as per my brownie recipe)
100gms of Cream (Amul Fresh cream, I have given this brand since it is readily available in Indian Market)
200gms of Chocolate ( I used dairy milk coz I love it, you could use any cooking chocolate that is available)

Preparation:
1. Prepare the brownie and let it cool.
2. Heat the cream on very low heat in a heavy bottom pan.
3. Add chipped chocolate and mix well till the chocolate melts.
4. Remove from fire and stir well to make a smooth shiny ganache.
5. Just let it cool a bit by stirring and then pour it on your brownie and spread it nicely.
There your cake is ready.

You could decorate it further more by preparing icing
For Chocolate Icing you require,
1 cup Icing sugar
3/4 cup Butter
1/4 cup cocoa powder ( I used less since I am not a fan of bitter chocolate)
1/2 tsp vanilla essence( if required)

To Prepare,
1. Beat butter till smooth and creamy. Add essence.
2. Add sieved Icing sugar to the butter and beat till fluffy( for beating you could use handy mixer or normal indian mixer or blender, but make sure if you are using indian mixer don't let it warm or else the butter will melt to watery consistency)
3. Now add cocoa powder beat again and fill the icing gun and keep it in the refrigerator. Its ready to use

Forgive my decoration ;) It was my first time...
Well, Though it might not look the best cake ever but it did taste good, so do give it a try for your loved ones :)

Brownies

Hello my friends, I am very new to blogging but sure want to try it. With Easy Cooking, my intention is to make you believe cooking isn't that difficult. If I can cook then anyone can!! Since this would be my first post and my homemade Brownies are quite popular among my dear and near ones I thought I would like to share it with all of you. These warm Brownies taste the best with plain vanilla ice-cream

Things you need:
Oven / Microwave oven with convection
Cake Tin
Measuring cups

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups Milk
2tbsp White Vinegar
1 1/2 cups Maida (All purpose flour)
1/4 cup Cadburys Cocoa powder
1tsp soda-bi-carb
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup crushed walnuts
Baking sheet if available

How to make:
1. Boil milk and add the vinegar. When milk starts to curdle, keep on fire for another 1/2 minute and let the paneer and the water(whey) cool down to room temperature.
2. Sieve maida, soda-bi-carb, cocoa and sugar in the mixing bowl and mix well with a spoon.
3. Now add oil and paneer along with whey. Mix well with spoon.
4. Add the crushed walnuts and mix.
5. Grease the baking tin and if baking sheet is available then cut it into the size of the tin and cover the bottom, or else just dust with flour. Pour the cake batter in it.
6. Bake at 160 degrees for 40 minutes.
7. After the cake is done remove from oven and let it cool and then cut into pieces
8. To serve: Warm the brownie in a microwave for 30 seconds on high and serve with icecream. You can also decorate it with chocolate sauce.