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Chilli Spanner Crab Recipe: A Spicy Seafood Delight

By Gabriela Esteban  •   5 minute read

If you're looking for a seafood dish that packs a punch, you might want to try making a chilli spanner crab recipe.

Spanner crabs are a popular seafood ingredient in many Asian countries, especially in Singapore and Thailand. These crabs have a sweet and delicate flavour that pairs well with spicy chilli sauce.

A large red chilli sits next to a freshly caught spanner crab, surrounded by a variety of herbs and spices on a wooden cutting board

Preparing the ingredients for a chilli spanner crab recipe is relatively simple. You'll need fresh spanner crab meat, chillies, garlic, ginger, and other seasonings like soy sauce and sugar.

Once you have all the ingredients ready, you can start cooking the dish.

The cooking process involves stir-frying the crab meat with the sauce until it's coated in a spicy and flavourful glaze.

Chilli spanner crab is a dish that's perfect for seafood lovers who enjoy bold and spicy flavours.

This recipe is easy to make and can be served as a main course or as an appetizer. If you're looking for a new way to enjoy seafood, give this recipe a try and impress your guests with your culinary skills.

Key Takeaways

  • Chilli spanner crab is a flavourful seafood dish that's easy to make.
  • Spanner crabs are a popular ingredient in many Asian countries.
  • This dish is perfect for seafood lovers who enjoy bold and spicy flavours.

Preparing the Ingredients

Fresh red chillies, garlic cloves, and spanner crab meat arranged on a clean cutting board. A sharp knife and mortar and pestle sit nearby

Before you start cooking the chilli spanner crab, it's important to prepare all the ingredients to ensure that the dish comes out perfectly. Here are the steps to follow:

Selecting the Spanner Crab

When selecting the spanner crab, look for a crab that is alive and active. The crab should be heavy for its size, with a hard shell and legs that move easily. If you're buying crab meat, make sure it is fresh and has been refrigerated properly.

Chilli and Seasonings Prep

To prepare the chilli and seasonings, finely chop 2 red chillies, 3 cloves of garlic, 2 shallots, and 1 knob of ginger. You can also add chilli flakes, salt, and black pepper to taste. For a zestier flavour, add the juice of half a lemon.

Herbs and Vegetables

For added flavour, finely chop a handful of parsley and coriander leaves. You can also add diced onion and cherry tomatoes to the mix.

Once you have prepared all the ingredients, you're ready to start cooking the chilli spanner crab.

Cooking the Dish

A pot sizzles with sautéed onions, garlic, and chilli. A whole spanner crab is being added to the mix, surrounded by a variety of colorful spices and herbs

Making the Sauce

To make the chilli spanner crab sauce, heat some olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add some garlic and chilli and cook for a minute until fragrant. Then, add some chopped tomatoes and a splash of white wine. Let it simmer for around 10-15 minutes until it thickens.

Boiling the Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add your pasta of choice (spaghetti or spaghettini work well) and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve some of the cooking water before draining the pasta.

Combining Ingredients

Add some crab meat (king crab or spanner crab meat) to the sauce and cook for a few minutes until heated through. Then, add some lemon juice, a beaten egg, and some corn to the pan. Stir everything together until the egg is cooked and the sauce is well combined.

Final Touches

Add the cooked pasta to the pan with the sauce and toss together until the pasta is coated in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved cooking water to thin it out. Finally, garnish with some chopped parsley and coriander leaves, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and a sprinkle of black pepper. Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious chilli spanner crab pasta!

Frequently Asked Questions

A steaming pot of chilli spanner crab sits on a rustic wooden table, surrounded by vibrant ingredients and cooking utensils

What's the simplest way to prepare a chilli crab dish?

Preparing a chilli crab dish might seem daunting at first, but it's actually quite simple. The key is to have all the ingredients ready before you start cooking.

You'll need fresh crabs, chilli, ginger, garlic, tomato sauce, soy sauce, and sugar. First, clean and chop the crabs into pieces. Then, fry the chilli, ginger, and garlic in oil until fragrant. Add the tomato sauce, soy sauce, and sugar, and bring to a boil. Add the crab pieces and cook until they turn red and are fully coated with the sauce. Serve hot with steamed rice.

Can you recommend a top-rated recipe for chilli crab?

If you're looking for a top-rated recipe for chilli crab, you might want to try the Singapore Chilli Crab recipe by RecipeTin Eats. It's a classic recipe that's easy to follow and yields delicious results.

How do you properly cook spanner crabs?

Spanner crabs are a type of crab that's popular in Australia. To properly cook spanner crabs, start by boiling a large pot of water with salt. Once the water is boiling, add the crabs and cook for 8-10 minutes. Remove the crabs from the water and rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking process. Then, use a crab cracker to crack open the shell and remove the meat.

Is there a particular type of crab preferred for making chilli crab?

While any type of crab can be used to make chilli crab, mud crabs are the most commonly used. They have a sweet and tender meat that's perfect for this dish.

What's the iconic crab dish hailing from Singapore?

The iconic crab dish hailing from Singapore is none other than the Singapore Chilli Crab. It's a spicy and flavourful dish that's made with fresh crabs and a savoury chilli sauce.

Are spanner crabs a tasty choice for seafood recipes?

Yes, spanner crabs are a tasty choice for seafood recipes. They have a sweet and delicate flavour that pairs well with a variety of ingredients.

Try adding spanner crab meat to pasta dishes, salads, or soups for a delicious and healthy meal.

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