Chilli Crab

Chilli crab is one of the national dishes of Singapore. It involves cooking mud crabs in a stir-fry using a sweet and savory tomato-chilli sauce. Although it’s called chilli crab, the sauce is not that spicy; it has been called “sensuous” and “sweet”. This meal should be eaten Singapore style; diners should use their bare hands to crack the crab and savor the juicy meat and interesting chilli sauce. Things may get messy, so you might want to wear a bib.

Packing this for your lunch or your kid’s lunch? Make sure you pack them in an insulated kids lunch kit or in your kid’s lunch box.

Health Benefits

Crab meat is one of the most popular seafood menu items in the world. Hundreds of thousands of pounds of crab are fished out of the oceans every year. This is because crabs are not only delicious, they also make for extremely healthy eating. Consuming crab can help increase brain cognition, strengthen bones, improve the immune system by boosting its effectiveness, increase blood circulation, strengthen cardiovascular health, reduce inflammation, and even help detoxify the body.

Ingredients

tbsp cornstarch: 1

tbsp peanut oil: 7

shallots – minced (about 1/2 cup): 2-3

knob ginger – grated: 1 1/2

medium garlic cloves – minced: 6

thai chilies – minced: 4

whole Mud or Dungeness crabs: 2

cups chicken broth: 2

cup tomato paste: 1/4

cup hot-sweet chili sauce: 1/2

large eggs – beaten: 1

cup thinly sliced green onions: 1/2

cup Chinese parsley leaves: 1

How To Make Chilli Crab

1. Stir cornstarch with 2 tbsp water in a bowl.
   1. Set aside.
2. Heat oil on large wok with a lid over medium heat till the oil begins to shimmer.
   1. Stir in shallots, ginger, garlic, and chilies.
   2. Cook until fragrant.
3. Add crab pieces and broth.
4. Increase heat to medium high and bring to a boil.
5. Cover loosely and gently boil until the crab turns red and is nearly cooked through.
6. Remove cover and stir in tomato paste and chili sauce.
7. Let simmer for 1 minute and season to taste with salt, sugar, or chili sauce.
8. Stir in cornstarch and bring to a boil to thicken the broth.
9. Remove from heat and stir in egg and green onions.
10. Sprinkle with Chinese parsley.
11. Serve and enjoy!

Trivia

Chilli crab was listed as 35 out of 50 on CNN's most delicious food list.