Caril de Caranguejo — Print Recipe

Fresh crab cooked in a fragrant curry of coconut milk, tomatoes, and spices, a luxurious dish from Mozambique's coastal towns.

Ingredients

1 Clean crabs thoroughly, remove the top shell, and crack the claws and legs so the sauce can penetrate.
2 Heat oil and sauté onion and garlic for five minutes, add curry powder, turmeric, and piri-piri, cook one minute.
3 Add tomatoes and cook for five minutes until they form a sauce, then pour in coconut milk and stir well.
4 Bring to a gentle simmer, add crab pieces, cover, and cook for twenty minutes until crab is bright red.
5 Add lime juice, season with salt, and let the sauce reduce for five more minutes to intensify flavors.
6 Serve in deep bowls with the sauce, garnished with cilantro, with finger bowls and rice on the side.

Did You Know?

Eating caril de caranguejo is a messy, hands-on affair, and Mozambicans consider the effort part of the enjoyment.