Delicious Soy Marinated Crab (Ganjang Gejang) Recipe
Homemade Premium Soy Marinated Crab
Capture the taste of spring with this delicious Ganjang Gejang (soy marinated crab) recipe! If you marinate crab in spring and store it in your kimchi refrigerator, you can enjoy rich, roe-filled crab any time. Female crabs in spring, nearing their spawning season, are plump and exceptionally sweet and flavorful, making them perfect for marinating. This recipe will guide you to create restaurant-quality Ganjang Gejang right in your own kitchen!
Main Ingredients
- 5 fresh female blue crabs
- 1 small onion
- 1-2 green chilies (to taste)
- 1-2 red chilies (to taste)
- Garlic cloves (sliced)
- Radish (sliced)
Golden Marinade Ingredients
- 50g Soju (for odor removal)
- 700g Anchovy sauce (fish sauce)
- 500g Soy sauce (Korean soup soy sauce or regular soy sauce)
- 2kg Purified water
- 250g Plum extract (for sweetness and depth)
- 250g Sugar
- 200g Cider (carbonated soft drink, for a smoother sweetness)
- 50g Soju (for odor removal)
- 700g Anchovy sauce (fish sauce)
- 500g Soy sauce (Korean soup soy sauce or regular soy sauce)
- 2kg Purified water
- 250g Plum extract (for sweetness and depth)
- 250g Sugar
- 200g Cider (carbonated soft drink, for a smoother sweetness)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
When cleaning the crabs, using a toothbrush is a convenient way to thoroughly scrub every nook and cranny. Since the crabs are marinated whole, rinse them meticulously. Gently remove the abdominal flap (the ‘triangle’ shape on the underside) to complete the preparation. Thoroughly cleaning the shell is key to the crab’s clean flavor.
Step 2
Thinly slice the small onion on an angle. Similarly, slice the green and red chilies on an angle for easy eating. Slice the garlic cloves thinly. For a refreshing broth flavor, slice the radish thinly as well. The freshness of these vegetables will enhance the crab’s overall flavor profile.
Step 3
To make the delicious marinade, combine all the marinade ingredients and mix well. It’s important to taste and adjust the sweetness and saltiness to your preference. We recommend tasting as you go rather than making it too strong initially; this is the secret to a perfectly seasoned marinade.
Step 4
Now, let’s marinate the crabs. Place a layer of the sliced radish at the bottom of your chosen container. Arrange the cleaned crabs on top. Pour the prepared marinade evenly over the crabs, ensuring they are fully submerged. Cover the container and let it undergo a 3-day first maturation period in your kimchi refrigerator. This step allows the marinade to deeply penetrate the crab meat.
Step 5
After the 3-day first maturation, carefully strain all the marinade out of the container into a pot and bring it to a rolling boil. Let the boiled marinade cool completely. During the first maturation, the radish will have absorbed a lot of the flavorful marinade. Once the marinade is completely cooled, pour it back over the crabs in the container. After a second maturation period of 3 days, your delicious, deeply flavored Ganjang Gejang will be ready to grace your table! Enjoy this exquisite dish.
