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Caril de Caranguejo (Coastal Mangrove Crab Coconut Curry)
Succulent mangrove crabs simmered in a fragrant coconut gravy spiked with garlic, piri-piri, and ground cumin.
The story
Caril de Caranguejo is a centerpiece dish along Mozambique's central coastline, celebrated in the seafood capitals of Inhambane, Beira, and Quelimane. Prepared for festive Sunday lunches and maritime gatherings, it displays the deep Indo-Portuguese trade influences that defined the Swahili coast for centuries. Chefs in this region meticulously crack the crab shells beforehand with the flat edge of a cleaver to let the spiced coconut cream seep directly into the sweet claw meat during cooking.
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