Singapore Chili Crab
Singapore-style crab in a savory-sweet tomato-chili sauce enriched with egg and served with mantou.
Equipment
- Large wok or deep skillet with lid
- Crab crackers
- Cleaver or heavy chef's knife
- Small mixing bowl
- Wooden spoon
Ingredients
Crab
- 2 whole mud crabs cleaned and quartered, about 3 1/2 lb total
- 3 tbsp neutral oil
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger finely grated
- 2 whole red chiles finely chopped
Sauce and Serve
- 1 cup tomato ketchup
- 1/3 cup Asian chili sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 cup seafood or chicken stock
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp water
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 3 whole scallions sliced
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro loosely packed
- 8 whole steamed mantou buns for serving
Instructions
Prepare the Crab:
- Remove the top shells, gills, and apron from the crabs. Rinse briefly, drain well, and crack the claws so the sauce can enter.
- Whisk the ketchup, chili sauce, tomato paste, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and stock in a bowl. In a second bowl, stir the cornstarch with the water.
Cook:
- Heat the oil in a large wok over medium-high heat. Cook the garlic, ginger, and chiles for 30 seconds, then add the crab pieces and toss for 2 minutes.
- Pour in the sauce, cover, and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, turning the crab once, until the shell is bright and the meat is opaque.
- Stir in the cornstarch slurry and simmer until the sauce lightly coats the crab. Pour the egg in a thin stream while stirring gently to form soft ribbons.
Serve:
- Fold in the scallions and half the cilantro. Taste and balance with a little extra vinegar or sugar if needed.
- Transfer to a broad serving bowl, scatter with the remaining cilantro, and serve immediately with hot mantou.
Notes
- Cracking the claws before cooking makes them easier to eat and lets the sauce season the meat.
- Blue crab can substitute for mud crab; use the same total weight and shorten cooking slightly for small crabs.
Nutrition
Calories: 640kcalCarbohydrates: 67gProtein: 43gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 255mgSodium: 1680mgFiber: 3gSugar: 25g