Coconut crab with stone bass Recipe

Coconut crab with stone bass Recipe

  • 150g/5oz desiccated coconut
  • 4 cloves
  • 2 sprigs curry leaves, leaves picked
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 onions, finely sliced
  • 2 green chillies, finely sliced
  • 2 tbsp tamarind paste
  • 2 tbsp palm sugar
  • 400ml/14fl oz coconut milk
  • 300g/11oz fresh white crab meat, picked
  • 2 tbsp coriander leaves, roughly chopped
  • 1 lime, juice only
  • 4 x 200g/7oz stone bass fillet, skin on
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp coriander cress
  1. Heat a frying pan until medium hot, add two thirds of the coconut, with the cloves, curry leaves and turmeric and fry until golden-brown.
  2. Place into a small food processor or grinder and blitz to a fine powder.
  3. Heat a sautĂŠ pan or wok until hot, add the vegetable oil and onions and fry until golden-brown.
  4. Add the chillies and the remaining desiccated coconut and fry for one minute.
  5. Add the tamarind paste, palm sugar and coconut milk and bring to a simmer.
  6. Cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened then stir in the crab meat and coriander and season with a little lime juice, salt and black pepper.
  7. Season the stone bass fillet with salt and black pepper.
  8. Heat a frying pan until medium hot, add the stone bass skin side down and cook for two minutes, then turn over and cook the other side for two more minutes.
  9. To serve, spoon the crab curry onto the plate, then top with the stone bass and finish with a sprinkling of coriander cress.