Tiếng Việt
ไทยThe way to steam sea crabs might seem simple, but if not done correctly, the crab can easily lose its claws, become dry, or lose its natural sweet flavor. With just a few small tips in the preparation and selection process, you can perfectly steam sea crabs so they are delicious, firm-fleshed, and retain their full, fresh, and sweet flavor just like in a restaurant. Let’s explore the best and easiest ways to steam sea crabs at home in the article below from Ola Squid.
1. How to steam sea crab with lemongrass
1.1. Ingredients
To make steamed crab with lemongrass, you need to prepare the following ingredients:
- 3 sea crabs (about 1.5 – 2kg)
- 1 knob of ginger, 12 stalks of lemongrass
- 1 kumquat, 330ml beer
- 1 tablespoon of sea salt, 1 tablespoon of peppercorns
- 2 teaspoons of cooking oil
- Seasonings such as salt, MSG, sugar, seasoning powder
1.2. Instructions
Follow these steps to steam sea crab with lemongrass:
- Step 1: First, keep the ties on, place the crabs in a basin of cold water and add ice cubes to sedate them for about 10 minutes. While the crabs are numb, use a brush to scrub the shell, claws, and joints thoroughly under running water to completely remove any mud or sand.
- Step 2: Wash the lemongrass and bruise it to release more essential oils. Peel the ginger, wash it, and slice it thinly to add fragrance and remove the fishy smell of the crab.
- Step 3: Put sea salt and peppercorns in a mortar and grind them, add a little MSG, and mix well. When eating, squeeze in some kumquat so the dipping sauce has a balanced salty, spicy, and slightly sour flavor that goes perfectly with steamed crab.
- Step 4: Next, arrange the lemongrass and ginger at the bottom of the steamer, place the crabs on top, and lightly sprinkle seasonings like salt, seasoning powder, sugar, and MSG over the shells. Add filtered water and beer to the pot, place the steamer on top, cover, and steam over low heat for about 7 minutes. When the crabs start moving, open the lid to rearrange them evenly, and continue to steam for another 5 minutes until the crabs are fully cooked.
- Step 5: Once cooked, the lemongrass steamed crab releases a gentle aroma of lemongrass and ginger, with sweet, tender, and firm crab meat. Finally, enjoy it hot and dip it in the salt, pepper, and kumquat sauce to fully savor the natural deliciousness of the sea crab.
2. How to steam crab with beer
2.1. Necessary ingredients
The ingredients you need to prepare for steamed sea crab with beer are as follows:
- Fresh sea crab
- 1 can of beer
- 1 knob of ginger, a few lemongrass stalks
2.2. Implementation
Steps to make beer-steamed sea crab:
- Step 1: First, buy the crabs, remove the flaps, and wash them under the tap to remove all mud and sand. Wash the lemongrass, bruise it, and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Peel the ginger and slice it thinly.
- Step 2: Place the crabs in a steamer pot, pour the beer into the pot, and arrange the lemongrass and ginger on top. Next, place the pot on the stove, heat over medium heat until the beer boils, then lower the heat, cover, and steam for about 15 minutes until the crabs are cooked through.
- Step 3: The beer-steamed crab will have a gentle aroma, with sweet, tender meat that is not fishy at all. When enjoying, you should dip it in salt, pepper, and lime to make the flavor more complete and attractive.
>>> Similar delicious dishes: How to make sweet and savory beer-steamed squid at home without any fishy smell
3. Instructions for steaming sea crab with salt
3.1. Prepare ingredients
Ingredients for making salt-steamed sea crab:
- 1 large sea crab
- 5 stalks of lemongrass
- 1 cup of sea salt
3.2. Processing
Instructions for making salt-steamed sea crab as follows:
- Step 1: Put the crab in the freezer or soak it in ice water for about 10 minutes to numb it, which makes handling easy and prevents the claws from breaking. Then, use a pointed chopstick to gently prick the crab’s flap so it becomes completely immobile. Use a brush to scrub the shell, claws, and joints to remove any mud. Wash the lemongrass and slice it diagonally.
- Step 2: Next, spread the sea salt evenly on the bottom of the pot, cover it with a layer of lemongrass to create fragrance. Then place the crabs in the pot, close the lid tightly, and steam over low heat for about 20 minutes until the crabs are evenly cooked.
- Step 3: The finished salt-steamed crab has an eye-catching orange-red color, with firm meat and natural sweetness. The dish retains the original flavor of the sea crab and is very attractive when served with salt, pepper, lime, or green chili salt.
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4. Tips for buying delicious sea crabs
To ensure steamed, boiled, or stir-fried crab dishes reach their full potential, choosing fresh and delicious crab is the deciding factor. When buying sea crabs, you should pay attention to some of these tips:
- Observe the color and shell: Prioritize crabs with a natural blue-gray color, hard shell, smooth surface, and sharp, distinct spines on the claws. These are signs that the crab is healthy and meaty.
- Choose live, active crabs: A healthy crab will move quickly and have good reflexes. Avoid buying lethargic or inactive crabs because the meat is often mushy and less sweet.
- Test the hardness of the flap: Gently press your finger on the crab’s flap; if it feels firm and does not sag, that is a fresh, meaty crab.
- Check the silk skin on the crab claws: The silk skin at the claw joint being light to dark pink indicates a plump crab with firm, sweet meat.
- Avoid signs of weak crabs: Do not choose crabs with pale colors, loose flaps, or shriveled claws as these are usually low-meat, poor-quality crabs.
5. FAQ
5.1. How long does it take to steam sea crab?
The ideal steaming time for sea crab ranges from 12 – 20 minutes, depending on the size of the crab. Small crabs cook faster, usually 12 – 15 minutes, while larger ones need 18 – 20 minutes. When you see the crab shell turn orange-red and have a characteristic aroma, the crab is fully cooked.
5.2. How to clean sea crabs?
To clean sea crabs, you can follow these steps:
- After buying them, keep the crabs in a cool place for a few minutes so they can stabilize their temperature, avoiding thermal shock when preparing.
- Soak the crabs in cold water or ice water for about 10 minutes to numb them, making handling safer and easier.
- Then, use a brush to scrub the shell, flap, claws, and leg joints thoroughly under running water to remove all mud and sand.
- Next, cut the ties, lift the crab flap, and remove the pointed part on the abdomen. Separate the shell, remove the gray gills and the internal digestive sac, then rinse one last time before cooking.
5.3. Is boiled or steamed crab better?
Steaming crab is generally considered better because it retains its full natural sweetness and prevents the meat from becoming watered down. Boiling is fast and simple, but if you don’t control the water carefully, the crab meat can easily lose its sweetness. Therefore, steaming is the preparation method preferred by many.
Hopefully, with these detailed tips, you now know how to steam sea crab so it is evenly cooked, does not lose its claws, and retains its full natural sweetness. If you want to explore more attractive seafood recipes, tips on choosing fresh ingredients, and useful culinary knowledge, don’t forget to visit the Ola Squid Blog to update many more interesting articles! Or if you are craving some high-quality seafood, check out our delicious dried squid products at our online store.
