Name: Kerala Boatman's Crab Curry
Yield: Serves 6
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds jumbo lump crab meat; 1 medium onion; 3 large garlic cloves; a 1-inch piece fresh gingerroot; 2 dried hot red chiles such as cayennes or chiles de árbol; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 teaspoon brown or black mustard seeds; 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon ground coriander seeds; 1/2 teaspoon turmeric; 1/4 cup packed fresh cilantro sprigs; 1 1/2 cupsLaxmi's fresh coconut milk or canned unsweetened coconut milk; 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt, or to taste; Accompaniment: cooked white or brown basmati rice; Garnish: sliced scallion greens

Image may contain Food Dish Meal Plant and Lunch

Kerala Boatman's Crab CurryGourmet Studios

A narrow strip of land at the southwestern tip of India, the state of Kerala is interlaced with a network of lagoons, canals, lakes, and rivers. Peddlers sell fish from these waters and other food by boat along the canals.

This curry is styled after the ones these boatmen cook for themselves. It incorporates many ingredients of the Kerala kitchen: black peppercorns, fiery red chiles, mustard seeds, and the ubiquitous coconut. In India they toss about 20 fresh curry leaves into the kettle along with the onion, garlic, gingerroot, chiles, and peppercorns. These aromatic leaves can be difficult to find in the U.S., but if you locate some, by all means use them.

Recipe notes

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.

Caramelized Onion Pasta

Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Crème Anglaise

The silky French vanilla sauce that goes with everything.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

Mascarpone Cheesecake

An extra-silky filling (no water bath needed!) and a smooth sour cream topping make this the ultimate cheesecake.

Vodka Gochujang Pasta

This pasta has some really big energy about it. It’s so extra, it’s the type of thing you should be eating in your bikini while drinking a magnum of rosé, not in Hebden Bridge (or wherever you live), but on a beach on Mykonos.

Okonomiyaki Tater Tots

Crispy tots topped with savory-sweet sauce, mayonnaise, furikake, scallion, and katsuobushi.