Kitchen Recipe Collection
Sri Lankan Crab Curry
A luxurious, intensely flavored Sri Lankan coconut milk crab curry — whole crabs cooked in a rich, aromatic, fiery gravy of coconut milk and roasted spices, best eaten with your hands.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 2
- Difficulty
- medium
- Cuisine
- sri lankan
Ingredients
Scaled for 2 servings
- whole mud crabs or blue crabs
- coconut milk
- onion
- garlic
- ginger
- tomatoes
- roasted curry powder
- red chili powder
- turmeric
- black pepper
- curry leaves
- pandan leaf
- fenugreek seeds
- oil
- salt
Equipment
- Large pot or wok
- Crab cracker or mallet
- Knife
Instructions
- 1
Prepare Crabs
Clean the crabs by removing the top shell and gills. Break the body in half and crack the claws. Marinate with turmeric, red chili powder, and salt for 10 minutes.
- 2
Temper Aromatics
Heat oil in a large pot. Add fenugreek seeds, curry leaves, pandan leaf, and sliced onion. Fry until golden. Add garlic and ginger.
- 3
Add Spices & Tomatoes
Add roasted curry powder, black pepper, and additional chili powder. Stir for 30 seconds. Add chopped tomatoes and cook until they break down.
- 4
Add Coconut Milk
Pour in coconut milk and bring to a gentle simmer.
- 5
Cook Crabs
Add the crab pieces to the simmering curry. Cook for 15–20 minutes, gently stirring occasionally, until the crab shells turn bright red and the meat is cooked through.
Cooking Tips
- Live or very fresh crabs give the best flavor — always buy the freshest available.
- Fenugreek seeds are essential in Sri Lankan crab curry for their distinctive bittersweet depth.
- Serve with a finger bowl of water and lemon — crab curry is always eaten by hand.
Variations
- Dry Crab Curry: Reduce coconut milk for a drier, more intensely spiced preparation.
- Jaffna Crab Curry: A Northern Sri Lankan style with more black pepper and no coconut milk.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- Crab curry is considered a celebratory dish in Sri Lanka, especially along the coastal regions.
- Storage: Best eaten immediately. Crab curry does not store well.
Nutrition Estimate
310 calories · 32g protein · 11g carbs · 16g fat · 2g fiber per serving
