Black Pepper Crab: A Spicy Delight for Seafood Lovers
If you love seafood, then you must try the Singaporean delicacy, black pepper crab.
This dish is a perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and savoury flavours that are sure to tantalize your taste buds.
The dish is made with fresh crabs that are stir-fried with black pepper, garlic, and other spices to create a deliciously fragrant and flavourful meal.
The black pepper crab recipe is not only easy to make, but it is also a great way to impress your guests.
The dish is perfect for a dinner party or a special occasion, and it is sure to be a hit with everyone.
Whether you are a seafood lover or not, you will definitely enjoy this dish.
If you want to experience the true taste of Singapore, then black pepper crab is a must-try dish.
You can find this dish in many Singaporean restaurants, but why not try making it at home?
With a few simple ingredients and some basic cooking skills, you can create a delicious and authentic Singaporean meal that is sure to impress.
So, what are you waiting for? Give this recipe a try and enjoy the delicious flavours of black pepper crab.
Key Takeaways
- Black pepper crab is a delicious Singaporean seafood dish that is easy to make and perfect for special occasions.
- The dish is made with fresh crabs that are stir-fried with black pepper, garlic, and other spices to create a deliciously fragrant and flavourful meal.
- Black pepper crab is a must-try dish for anyone who wants to experience the true taste of Singapore.
Black Pepper Crab Recipe
If you're looking for a spicy and flavourful seafood dish, black pepper crab is the perfect recipe for you.
This dish is a Singaporean classic, and it's easy to see why. The combination of fresh crab meat, fragrant black pepper, and rich oyster sauce creates a dish that's both spicy and savoury.
Ingredients
To make black pepper crab, you will need the following ingredients:
- 2 mud crabs
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 1/2 cup tapioca flour
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon caster sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 shallots, minced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon dried prawns
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 red chilli, sliced
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 1 cube of bread
Preparation Steps
Before you start cooking, you'll need to prepare your crabs.
The easiest way to do this is to place them in the freezer for about 30 minutes. This will put them to sleep and make them easier to handle.
Once they're asleep, remove them from the freezer and kill them quickly and humanely.
Next, mix the tapioca flour with water to create a paste. Dip the crabs in the paste, making sure they're well coated.
Heat the oil in a wok and deep fry the crabs until they're golden brown. Remove them from the wok and set them aside.
Cooking Process
In the same wok, melt the butter and add the shallots, garlic, dried prawns, black pepper, curry leaves, and chilli.
Saute until fragrant, then add the crab and the remaining ingredients. Cook for 5-10 minutes until the crab is done.
To finish the dish, sprinkle some freshly ground black pepper over the crab and serve it with mantou buns or steamed rice.
The spicy and peppery taste of the crab is perfectly balanced by the sweet and savoury sauce.
Black pepper crab is a delicious and impressive dinner dish that's sure to impress your guests.
It's also a great way to use up any leftover crab you have in your pantry.
If you're looking for a video recipe, check out this one for a step-by-step guide on how to make black pepper crabs.
Culinary Context and Serving Suggestions
Cultural Significance
Black pepper crab is a popular seafood dish that originated in Singapore.
It is a spicy and peppery dish that is loved by many locals and tourists alike.
The dish is usually served as part of a dinner menu and is often accompanied by other seafood dishes.
It is also a favourite dish for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings.
Accompaniments and Variations
Black pepper crab is best served with mantou buns, which are steamed Chinese buns that are soft and fluffy.
These buns are perfect for soaking up the delicious black pepper sauce.
You can also serve the crab with steamed rice or noodles.
Some people also like to serve it with a side of vegetables like broccoli or bok choy.
If you want to add some variation to the dish, you can try adding some scallions or coriander leaves to the sauce.
This will give the dish a fresh and herbaceous flavour.
You can also adjust the level of spiciness to your liking by adding more or less black pepper.
When serving the dish, it is important to use a large serving dish that can accommodate the whole crab.
This will make it easier for everyone to dig in and enjoy the dish together.
You can also decorate the dish with some fresh herbs like coriander leaves or parsley to make it look more appetising.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best way to cook black pepper crab at home?
Cooking black pepper crab at home can be a bit tricky, but it's definitely doable.
The key is to have fresh ingredients, especially the crab. You can use either live mud crab or raw blue swimmer crab.
The crab is first stir-fried with black pepper, garlic, shallots, and oyster sauce over high heat. You can also add some chopped chillies for extra heat.
The dish is then served with steamed rice or mantou buns.
Where can I find the most authentic black pepper crab in Singapore?
There are many places in Singapore where you can find authentic black pepper crab.
Some of the popular places include No Signboard Seafood, Long Beach Seafood Restaurant, and Jumbo Seafood.
These restaurants have been serving black pepper crab for many years and are known for their quality and taste.
How does the taste of black pepper crab compare to chilli crab?
Black pepper crab and chilli crab are both popular seafood dishes in Singapore.
While chilli crab is sweet and spicy, black pepper crab has a more intense and aromatic flavour.
The black pepper gives the dish a unique taste that is hard to find in other dishes.
Some people prefer black pepper crab over chilli crab because of its flavour, while others prefer chilli crab because of its sweetness.
Can you recommend a good restaurant for black pepper crab?
If you're looking for a good restaurant for black pepper crab, No Signboard Seafood is a great option.
They have been serving black pepper crab for over 40 years and are known for their quality and taste.
Other good options include Long Beach Seafood Restaurant and Jumbo Seafood.
What are the typical prices for a dish of black pepper crab?
The prices for black pepper crab can vary depending on the restaurant and the size of the crab.
Generally, you can expect to pay around SGD 60 to SGD 80 for a dish of black pepper crab that serves two to three people.
Does the spice level in black pepper crab vary, and can it be adjusted?
The spice level in black pepper crab can vary depending on the restaurant and the chef. Some restaurants make it spicier than others.
If you prefer a milder version, you can ask the chef to adjust the spice level when you order. However, keep in mind that black pepper crab is meant to be a spicy dish, so it may still be quite spicy even if you ask for it to be milder.