Maharashtra Day 2025: Follow these easy recipes to innovate with classic dishes

Maharashtras cuisine is extremely diverse because the western state also boasts of a long coastline that lends it seafood beyond the vegetarian and meat dishes While the interiors of Maharashtra rely on different kinds of masalas the coastal region has much more to offer and together they make up an expansive cuisineEvery year Maharashtra Day is observed on May 1 to mark the formation of the western state and separation of Bombay into Gujarat which is also why it coincides with Gujarat Day While the two cuisines may have some similarities they are vastly different too and that is what makes their food uniqueTo celebrate Maharashtrian cuisine midday asked Indian chefs and restaurateurs to share recipes for innovative dishes that have been inspired by traditional dishes They not only share one but two seafood inspired dishes While one reinvents the other celebrates the spicy and seasonal specialities of the regionMalvani Masala Soft Shell Crab with Prawn Bisque CurryChef Akash Deshpande who is the head chef at Luv Restaurant in Andheri has taken the liberty to innovate with traditional seafood He advises that people can make a Malvani Masala Soft Shell Crab with Prawn Bisque Curry The city chef shares Most people in India know crabs as having hard shells and thats how theyre usually caught and cooked here The idea of catching crabs right after they shed their old shell when theyre soft isnt very common in India Deshpande adds that the way Indian food is usually made with strong flavours and sauces may not be the best way to enjoy the special soft texture of these crabs which he also likes to work with even though he believes other restaurants fear wastage and avoid working with itIngredientsFor the Soft Shell CrabSoft shell crab 1 pieceMalvani masala as requiredFresh garlic finely chopped to tasteChilli flakes to tasteFresh coriander chopped to tasteLemon juice a splashSalt to tasteBlack pepper to tasteTempura batter as needed for coatingOil ndash for deep fryingFor the curryOil 15 mlGinger 3 gm finely chopped or gratedOnion masala 30 gmInhouse kanda onion masala as requiredInhouse prawn bisque 100 mlFresh cream 90 mlButter 15 gmSalt 1 gmKokum 12 tspBroth powder or concentrate 1 gmFresh coriander chopped 1 gmFor servingFreshly baked bun stuffed with caramelised onionsMethod1 Prepare the Soft Shell Crab Marinate the soft shell crab with Malvani masala fresh garlic chilli flakes salt pepper fresh coriander and a splash of lemon juice Let it rest for at least 10 minutes to absorb the flavours Dip the marinated crab into tempura batter ensuring it is well coated Deepfry in hot oil until golden brown and crispy Set aside on a paper towel to drain excess oil2 Prepare the curry Heat 15 ml of oil in a pan Add ginger and saute briefly until fragrant Add onion masala and cook for a minute Stir in the inhouse Kanda masala Pour in the prawn bisque and stir well Simmer gently then add cream and butter stirring until the curry becomes rich and silky Season with salt and broth powder Finish with chopped fresh coriander3 Assemble Place the crispy soft shell crab on a plate Pour the hot prawn bisque curry over or around the crab Serve immediately with a freshly baked bun stuffed with caramelised onionsTaleli KolambiOn the other hand chef Pankaj senior chef at HyLo suggests making Taleli Kolambi which is a seasonal take on the classic fried prawns dish He explains This dish sees succulent prawns meet the tanginess of raw mango creating unique flavours on your palateIngredientsPrawns with the tail attached 8 nosRaw mango pulp 4 tbspGingergarlic paste 1 tbspGreen chilli paste 1 tbspTurmeric powder 12 tspSalt as requiredLime juice 2 tbspCornflour 1 tbspRefined oil for fryingMethod1 Take the prawns devein them and wash properly2 Create a marinade with the raw mango pulp gingergarlic paste green chilli paste turmeric powder salt and lime juice3 Mix the prawns in the marinade4 Add in the cornflour and mix well5 Fry in refined oil until crispyatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params