Chili crab is a beloved Singaporean seafood dish known for its rich, spicy sauce made from chili paste, garlic, ginger, egg, and fresh tomatoes or ketchup. This iconic dish often features mud crabs but can be adapted with other types of crustaceans. It’s celebrated for its robust flavors that balance sweetness, spice, and umami.
Recipe for Chili Crab:
Ingredients:
- 2 large mud crabs (approximately 1.5 kg each), cleaned and cut into pieces
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
- 2 tablespoons chili paste or sambal oelek
- 3 tablespoons tomato ketchup
- 1/4 cup sweet dark soy sauce
- 1/4 cup fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 100g fresh cream (optional)
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- Juice of half a lime
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh chilies for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Crabs:
- Clean and cut the crabs into pieces. Remove any remaining gills or lungs.
- Cook the Base:
- Heat oil in a large wok over medium heat.
- Sauté garlic and ginger until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Add chili paste and fry for another minute until aromatic.
- Create the Sauce:
- Mix tomato ketchup, sweet dark soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and lime juice in a bowl and set aside.
- Pour this mixture into the wok, stir well to combine with the aromatics.
- Add a splash of water if necessary to achieve your desired consistency.
- Cook the Crabs:
- Gently add the crab pieces to the sauce, ensuring they are coated evenly.
- Cook for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally until crabs turn red and the shells are slightly caramelized.
- Add the Egg:
- Reduce heat and drizzle beaten egg over the crabs while stirring gently to coat the pieces evenly with a silky texture.
- If using fresh cream, add it now for extra richness (optional).
- Adjust Seasoning:
- Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lime juice as needed.
- Garnish and Serve:
- Garnish with sliced fresh chilies if desired.
- Serve immediately with steamed buns (mantou) for dipping into the delicious sauce.
Enjoy your homemade chili crab with family and friends!
Text model: phi4
Image model: DynaVisionXL
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