Spicy & Sweet Seasoned Blue Crab Steamed to Perfection
Seafood Side Dish, Homemade Crab Feast, Using Frozen Crab, Delicious Seasoned Crab Recipe
A truly addictive seasoned blue crab dish that will make you devour a bowl of rice! It’s perfectly spicy and sweet with absolutely no fishy odor. Enjoy the rich flavors from fresh crab, abundant vegetables, and our special sauce.
Main Ingredients- 5 Blue Crabs
- 250g Bean Sprouts
- 1 Leek
- 1/2 Onion
- 2 Chilies (Red or Green)
- 2 Tbsp Rice Wine (Cheongju)
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1.5 cups Water (approx. 300ml)
Starch Slurry (for thickening)- 2 Tbsp Cornstarch or Potato Starch
- 1 Tbsp Water
Special Seasoning Sauce- 3 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean Chili Flakes)
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean Chili Paste)
- 0.5 Tbsp Doenjang (Korean Soybean Paste)
- 3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Fish Sauce (Anchovy or Sand Lance)
- 2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (or Rice Wine)
- 2 Tbsp Corn Syrup
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 2 tsp Minced Ginger (or a pinch of ginger powder)
- Pinch of Black Pepper
- 2 Tbsp Cornstarch or Potato Starch
- 1 Tbsp Water
Special Seasoning Sauce- 3 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean Chili Flakes)
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean Chili Paste)
- 0.5 Tbsp Doenjang (Korean Soybean Paste)
- 3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Fish Sauce (Anchovy or Sand Lance)
- 2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (or Rice Wine)
- 2 Tbsp Corn Syrup
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 2 tsp Minced Ginger (or a pinch of ginger powder)
- Pinch of Black Pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare all the ingredients needed for the dish. The secret to a clean and delicious taste lies in fresh ingredients and thorough preparation.
Step 2
Rinse the fresh bean sprouts under running water a couple of times without removing their heads or tails. After rinsing, drain them well. The crunchy texture of the bean sprouts will complement the sauce beautifully.
Step 3
Using live blue crabs is ideal, but frozen ones work wonderfully too. If using frozen crab, rinse it under cold water, then remove the shell and any hard parts, and cut it into serving-sized pieces. (Refer to detailed recipe @7013127 for crab cleaning instructions). After thawing, sprinkle the crab pieces with 2 tablespoons of rice wine (cheongju) and let them sit for a moment to effectively remove any fishy smell.
Step 4
Slice the onion into thick strips. Cut the chilies diagonally. Chop the leek into large, bite-sized pieces. The crispness of the vegetables and their mild spiciness will enhance the flavor of the crab.
Step 5
In a bowl, combine gochugaru, gochujang, doenjang, soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, mirin, corn syrup, minced garlic, minced ginger, and black pepper. Mix everything thoroughly with a spoon until well combined and no lumps remain. Proper mixing is key to a flavorful sauce.
Step 6
In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of starch with 1 tablespoon of water until smooth and lump-free. This starch slurry will be used at the end of cooking to achieve a nice, glossy thickness. (Ratio: Starch to Water is 2:1)
Step 7
Pour about 1.5 cups (300ml) of water into a wide, deep pot and add the bean sprouts. Cover with a lid and boil over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes, just until the bean sprouts are slightly wilted. Set the bean sprouts aside on a plate as they will be added back later. To the pot with the remaining liquid, add the prepared crab pieces and half (1/2) of the seasoning sauce.
Step 8
After adding the crab, cover the pot and simmer over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Once the crab is partially cooked, add the sliced onion and chilies and cook for another minute. Then, return the reserved bean sprouts to the pot.
Step 9
Pour the remaining half (1/2) of the seasoning sauce into the pot. Gently stir a few times with a spoon or spatula to coat the crab and vegetables evenly with the sauce. This step ensures the flavors meld together.
Step 10
Now, gradually pour the starch slurry into the pot while stirring. Add just enough to reach your desired consistency. Be careful not to make it too thick. Aim for a glossy and appealing thickness.
Step 11
Turn off the heat once all cooking is complete. Add the chopped leeks and let them cook gently in the residual heat for a subtle aroma.
Step 12
Finally, drizzle in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and give it one last gentle stir to combine everything. Your delicious seasoned blue crab is ready! Enjoy it with a warm bowl of rice.
