Poor crabs! These 4 fellas were really unlucky to have bumped into me at the wet market yesterday. At RM25 per kg, these fellas cost about RM29 after I managed to bargain from RM30. 
I have a confession! Not only I love eating crabs, I enjoys killing them too! The most humane way to kill a crab is to put it into the freezer for few minutes. Or you can try my method. Turn it upside down and you will see the 'apron' which is the abdomen of the crab which is folded under the body; male's is narrow and long while mature female's is semicircular. Lift it up and using a sharp butcher knife, chop right into the middle of the crab all the way down right before reaching the shell. Your struggling crab will immediately ......well, stop struggling!
Remove the 'apron' and you will see a gap. Using your finger, give it a soft pull and the shell will detach from the legs and body. Remove the gills which looks like spongey filaments arranged around a central axis. There are eight gills on each side. Pull it off and give your crab a nice scrub to remove mud and dirt. As for the shell, handle with care especially the roes.
Separate the claws from the body and using the back of the knife, give it a light smash till see you tiny cracks.
I like my crabs cooked the simplest yet tastiest way: STEAMED! However upon Hubby's request, I cooked sweet and sour crabs so that he could dip bread into the gravy. The ingredients are very simple:
4 medium-sized crabs
6 pips garlic chopped
1 red onion chopped
2 tbs ginger chopped
2 tbs coriander (stem only)
1 tbs birds' eye chilies
For the gravy, I used:
4 tbs tomato ketchup
5 tbs chili sauce
1 tbs sugar
1 tbs oyster sauce
1 tbs soya sauce
1 tsp shaoxing wine
1 tbs lime juice/black vinegar
A dash of fish sauce
With 4 tbs of oil, sauteed the onion, garlic, ginger, coriander stem and chilies over low heat.
When the ingredients turned golden brown, increase the fire and pour in the crabs. Give it a good stir.
Once the crabs turns orangey, pour in the gravy concoction and add one cup of water. Give it a od stir. Bring it to boil and cover for 3 mins.
Continue stirring for 2 mins. Turn off the fire and pour in a beaten egg slowly while giving it a good stir.
Dish up and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve with white rice or bread.
Verdict? YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY!! Even Pea said so too!
Wanna read more of my obsession with crabs? Proceed by clicking HERE.
Monday, August 18, 2008
PEA'S SWEET SOUR CHILLI CRABS
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48 comments:
pea definetely loves crabby...ur crabs looks like its from restaurant..drooling..saliva dripping..urgh..i miss crabs..btw, if u intend to drive to MAHA, go early..i went there today the traffic is hectic..
haha the last pic of pea is so cute! i thought u were feeding pea with real crab b4 i scroll down..pheeeeeewwww
not only can you cook.. you're an accomplished crab killer too! lol.. kidding.. actually I didn't know about the freezer trick. Way cool;D
christine: Hehehe...Pea loves his crab toy and happily playing with it while we feast on the crab. Thanks for the information, i hope i can find time to visit the MAHA.
kampungboycitygal: No crabs for Pea although he gave me the pleading look. But he is happy enuff with his crabby toy.
cumi & ciki: They don't die instantly in the freezer, just on sleeping mode. Easier to kill without the struggling legs.
great cooks have to kill now and then to pamper the cruel gluttons.
obviously your loved ones cannot be vegetarians nor your 2 sweet Ps
Aiyer... I wanna see your evil face when you're about to kill the crabs :p
*LOL* For awhie, I honestly thought that Pea was enjoying a crab (that orange looking toy looks like the hard shell of a cooked crab)... Anyway, your sweet&sour crabs look really pro and yummilicious!
I've never killed a crab before!
Love steamed crabs, chili crabs, black pepper crabs...and now there is your sweet sour chili version....yum yum! Even Pea has its share :D
bsg: Vegetarian?? Never cross my mind to ever be one. As for my two precious, they insist of not eating if no presence of meat in their doggie biskits.
jason: That's a bit touch cos no one to take photo of me when I am busy killing. Hiyyaa...chop chop chop!
mycoffee: Thank you. Am also proud with the outcome. Pea would definitely wish to have a bite on the crab...in his dream! Hehehe. He used to have a lobster toy too.
tigerfish: Do try killing one..hehe..you will feel even more satisfied with the dish. This is similar to sweet sour version, only that I added in some chilies. Nice with bun!
i salute you. i dunno how to cook crabs. oh, kylie kwong also suggests the same way of humanely murdering lobsters. put in freezer, let it go to sleep, and it wont feel a thing. wonder how she knows....
did Pea get a piece of the crab too ? :p
Blogs are unlike books and the traditional media. It brings out the processes in all its glory, throwing caution on space out of the window. It satisfies the 'technician' in me. Even though I don't cook often just running through the process gives me the thrill. Keep it coming!
aiyoh..y u sound so scary 1..macam horror movie.."i like to kill crabs"...
u sure the final dish is the same one or u tapaued from some restaurant..looks dman good!
fbb: That is how my bro-in-law deals with lobster too. There was once he put it into the fridge for a day but it was still live and kicking when he took it out. Maybe it didn't sleep well.
ling239: Only in his dream ;)
worldwindows: Thanks! I promise more to come.
NJoe: If you see me holding the knife, you will sure have nightmare!! As for your second statement, hmm...i dunno whether i should take it as a praise or an insult. LOL!
absolutely delicious. lucky pea. lucky hub (in tt order)
Tried putting crabs in the freezer to freeze them to death. Could hear them desperately scratching to get out... and then......... silence..... eeeyeerrr... my bulu roma also naik.
I think i'll stick to eating ready cooked crabs at restaurants.
i believe with a few more posts like this, you can compile a recipe book d...Pea's Yummies. nice name hor? ;D
good job there.
TQ for the step by step guide to "killing" crabs... will try soon... he he he...
When I saw the dish, i thot... waaa, somemore use the same silver serving dish like some "tai chow" place...so professional! haha...
But, I really salute u la...I just can't get myself to kill the poor fella...i think if I buy the crab home, it will probably end up as my pet...lolz..
wow! can open restaurant dy.. can imagine the menu.. "today's special: super duper sedap sweet sour chilli crabs!"
looks just like the pro!!! terror la. btw, you tried the butter crab recipe oredi?
A good cooker must be a good killer too (I mean crab, fish or even a chicken killer) haha XD
If your doggy is Pea, may I be "Precious"? :P I want some. This recipe looks so good. Will have to try it some day! Or maybe I stand at your door with a loaf of bread so I can mop up the sauce too!
terri: I think Hubby already knew by now. ;)
jaded: I guess you should not have waited in front of the fridge door. Hahaha! Another way which is very effective, is to dump it into the boiling water for 3 seconds and dish it up! ;)
nic: Good idea. Maybe i should try compiling one for my cucu cicit.
mochasourcream: Hehe..do try. You will sure get hooked!
emily.t: The silver dish is the only biggest plate I have. Haha..no intention to imitate tai chow. Not to brag but my recipe really tastier than most tai chow leh.
sc: Haha..Hubby just convinced me that I should open up a restaurant.
babe: Not yet wor...keep on forgetting about the recipe. I will try it out this weekend so hopefully they still have crabs at the wet market.
mimid3vils: Err...so far I have only killed crabs. Dare not kill chicken or duck or fish. I saw my mum slaughtered a chicken before..scary la.
wandering chopsticks: Hehe..actually no fun being my dog. They only get to see us feast while looking at their miserable dry tasteless biscuits.
as long as u can be my food surgeon, i can be ur foot (or hand) surgeon *hehe*
eh, set up a restaurant in aus la!!! :D
Pea looks so adorable and happy there! :D
I absolutely love crab too. My number one favourite seafood, and number two overall food second only to beef (for hotpot).
That looks so yummy. Maybe should try and make it this way sometime.
jun: Deal! Open up restaurant in Aust not easy but can think think about it.
furkids in HK: Harlow! Long time didn't hear from you. How are things? Hahaha..i think my Hubby enjoys beef for hot pot more than crabs too.
wha, lucky Pea! Get to dine on your world-famous crabs! :d
u r very bad..... coz didnt invite me to yr crab dinner
waaa looks so great la, i shall try one of these days!
Chef Pea strike again *clap clap* Wah your knife is so big just to kill the poor crab :)
gosh!! you are really one PRO crab killer! lol. amazing to see how you 'de-shelled' that crab...
but even more drool worthy is the end result...looks really yummy!
Queen Crab strikes again with killer moves...Haaaaiiiiyah! Hahaha....
gosh. I have never tried cooking crabs at home before..much less killing one! U r brave precious pea..brave!
kenny mah: In his dream, you mean?
jackson: Friend, you are so busy nowadays, so difficult to date you leh.
ky: Try cooking your insects this style, should be tasty ;)
live2talk: Must be big and sharp, otherwise, have to chop few times, lagi painful (for the crab lah)
lingzie: I saw before an old man at the wet market in Penang. He just detached the shell from its body within seconds. He didn't even need to kill it first.
wmw: Ninja crab?
daphne: Hahaha...brave? Glutton is more like it!
Yum yum.. U really makes me hungry with this feast...
cool this looks really good! delicious!
wahhh ivy, your crab looks as good as those in restaurants lehhhhh ... if not better. i damn miss crab, and shellfish ... darn, should not have hopped over and look at your photo .. now how???
Much as I love crabs, I only ever had fresh ones in Malaysia. Its so expensive here, so I have never tried preparing them. I must confess never to having killed an animal to eat .. how did it feel with your first ever kill?
Thats cute, pea got crab too.
Ferocious crab killa!
Oh how I wish we are nextdoor neighnours ..
*note to self: must stock up tissues for next Bali post*
Wah....your crab really looks so good. I don't think I will ever cook crab myself. Too scared to kill them....
twinklestar: Hehehe..that is the purpose!
bbo: Actually self praise a bit hor..not bad, got standard!
lianne: Never mind dear, you will be back soon then we can go feast again ok?
hazza: First kill? Satisfaction!
ms 2 be: Used to have lobster too, too dirty and unrecognisable.
tummythoz: Hehehe..buy you hanky next time kay?
peb: Never try never know? Maybe you will be even more expert than me!
tae mo mabaho! hu hu pao!
-- antonio bidol
This dish is sooooo yummmy.
Dear Precious Pea,
I've tried the recipe...even I couldnt find the mud crab here...still the recipe is so yummy...planning to cook again today!! especialy the gravy to eat with the toast bread...
Owh I really miss "Fatty Crab"!!!
Mohd Fairuz, thanks for leaving my a feedback and am glad it turned out well for you too. You can substitute crabs with any seafood e.g. clams, mussels, fish...and yes...lovely with toasted buns!
Never thought that crab can turns out soooooooooooo goood... i'm reading your blog with drool all over my face... hahaha... will definitely ask my mom to make it for me!!!
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