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Durban Crab Curry (Coastal Tamarind Crab Curry)
A fiery, aromatic KwaZulu-Natal Indian curry featuring cracked blue swimming crabs simmered in a tangy tamarind and tomato gravy.
The story
Shaped by the indentured Indian community that settled along the subtropical coast of KwaZulu-Natal in the late nineteenth century, Durban Crab Curry is the undisputed crown jewel of Sunday family feasts. Local Durbanites prize this dish for its unapologetic heat, assertive aromatics, and deep tang, traditionally eaten communally with bare hands alongside fragrant basmati rice or soft rotis. A critical culinary secret is searing the cracked crab shells directly with whole spices before adding the tamarind pulp, allowing the rich shell oils to emulsify directly into the fiery gravy.
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