If there is something that I love to eat out of all seafood, it is hands down, crab meat. And let me tell you one thing — there is absolutely nothing better than chilli crab that you can get in Singapore when it comes to crab recipes.
So, if you are someone who has been to Singapore and had the chance to get a taste of their authentic Chilli Crab, you must want to know the recipe for cooking the best chili crab at home.
If that is something that you are searching for, you have come to the best place. Keep on reading the article till the end to learn the recipe for making this delicious and mouth-watering crab recipe at home…
Chilli Crab Recipe: How To Make It At Home?
Chilli crab is undoubtedly one of the greatest culinary gems of the country of Singapore. Even though it is called “chilli,” the taste of the dish is just mildly spicy. It is a savory dish that was invented in the year 1956.
A couple who used to run a pushcart in Singapore wanted to experiment with the crab dish. So, they decided to sell the dish on the banks of the Kallang River. They greatly benefited from the success of the dish and could open a new restaurant.
In the year 1963, a famous chef decided to make the dish spicier and sourer. He added the chili paste called sambal, which added a further kick to the dish.
And that is how we get the current version of this famous Singapore food. Even though it is a local delight, there is absolutely no one who does not know the name of this dish, being one of the country’s representative items.
Now that you know some of the history of the dish, it is time for you to know what you came here for — the recipe for making the best Chili Crab at home!
Ingredients: What Do You Need To Make Chilli Crab At Home?
So, here are the things that you need to cook the best Singaporean Chili Crab:
- Mud Crabs.
- Shallots.
- Green onions.
- Cilantro.
- Ginger.
- Garlic.
- Dried Chilis.
- Fermented Soya Beans.
- Fermented Shrimp paste (belachan).
- Tomato sauce.
- Eggs.
- Oil (preferably peanut oil).
- Cornflour.
- Meat broth.
- Salt.
- Sugar
Frozen Vs Fresh Crabs:
Yes – this one’s crucial! In order of choice, fresh crabs are always best for our chilli crab recipe – especially if the crabs are alive. In case you cannot find crabs that are fresh but not alive, that works well, too. Since crabs are typically killed soon after their capture for flavor retention and preservation purposes.
Moreover, for optimum freshness, it is best if you purchase a whole crab – instead of going for pre-cut crabs, opt for whole crabs.
Crabs That Aren’t Suitable For Singaporean Chilli Crab Recipe:
So, these are the crabs you must avoid while following our Singaporean Chilli crab recipe at home.
1. Small Crabs:
You can use small crabs. But the only problem with using small crabs is that you will not be able to extract a lot of meat.
2. King Crabs:
King crabs are of premium quality – these are incredibly meaty and sweet. The problem with using these crabs is that the strong flavors of the chili sauce will end up overwhelming the delicate flavor of the meat.
3. Snow Crab:
Snow crabs are very crumbly and delicate. As a result, it doesn’t make much sense to use snow crabs for this recipe.
Recipe: Step-By-Step Guide To Making The Best Chilli Crab Singapore!
Now that you know what the things that you need to cook the best Singaporean Chilli Crab, it is time for you to learn how to cook chili crab at home in Singaporean style!
The Crab:
The first thing that you need to do while cooking the crab is clean it thoroughly. You can either do it yourself or get your fishmonger to do it for you. After you are done cleaning it, cut the crab into pieces of your choice.
Cooking The Crab In The Chilli Crab Sauce:
After you have prepared the crab, it is time for you to create the star of the dish. So, here are the things that you need to do:
- Heat oil on a pan and put it on medium heat.
- Put in shallots, garlic, and ginger.
- Add the dried chilies and stir fry for a minute or until fragrant.
- Add Belachan and fry it for a minute.
- Take the fried mix and add it to the blender. This is the Rempah or the chili paste.
- In a separate pan or wok, add the broth and bring it to a boil.
- Add the pieces of crab and boil them for five minutes.
- After the broth gets reduced by half, add the belachan.
- Add the fermented bean paste.
- Cover the pan and let it cook.
- Remove the cover after seven minutes (see if the crab has turned red).
- Add the tomato paste.
- Add chili paste.
- Add salt and sugar as per taste.
- Add the cornflour slurry and stir for a minute.
- Turn off the stove and add in the eggs after whisking them for a velvety texture.
- Add the chopped green onions and cilantro, and stir for a minute.
And that is all you need to make the best Chili Crab recipe at home. Serve hot, and thank me later!
Want to watch and cook? Here is a video of the recipe that you might want to check out!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):-
Now that you have almost reached the end of the article, I hope that most of your queries have already been answered. However, here are some of the questions that readers frequently ask. Let’s check those out!
Ans: There are many people who do not know that seafood, which includes crabs, lobster, and octopus, is free from carbohydrates. They are full of nutrients and proteins. And, this makes them best for those who are following the Keto diet or other low-fat and low-carb diets.
Ans: Chilli Crab is one of the most popular dishes in Singapore. While you can have it with bread, it is often served with steamed buns (popular in China) called Mantou. They can also be eaten with rice if you are a rice person.
Ans: Singapore is known for its flavorful dishes in the country and across the world. The national dish of Singapore is Hainanese Chicken Rice or just Chicken Rice. Additionally, it is one of the simplest dishes of boiled or poached chicken meat being served on the bed of flavorful rice.
Ending It On A Hungry Note!
Chilli Crab is one of the most popular dishes in Singapore. It is an authentic dish that is made with fresh crab, which is found in abundance in the country, along with loads of pepper.
Generally, locals eat this dish with buns and beans, but you can totally have it with rice cooked with ginger and pandan leaf.
So, if you were searching for the best Chilli Crab recipes, I hope that you found this article to be of help. Also, if there are any other queries related to the same, feel free to comment them down in the box. And I will surely come back with more answers.
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