Steamed Crabs with Soy Dipping Sauce

Name: Steamed Crabs with Soy Dipping Sauce
Prep time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: Makes 4 servings
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 20 live blue crabs; Salt to taste; 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine or dry sherry; 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine or dry sherry; 3 scallions, trimmed and roughly chopped; 3 slices fresh ginger, smashed; 1 teaspoon peeled and minced fresh ginger; 2 tablespoons soy sauce; 2 tablespoons rice, black, or white vinegar; 2 tablespoons rice, black, or white vinegar; 2 tablespoons rice, black, or white vinegar; 1 teaspoon dark sesame oil; 2 teaspoons sugar; Minced scallion for garnish, optional; Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish, optional

Preparation info

Makes
4
servings

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
1 hr

Appears in

The Best Recipes in the World

By Mark Bittman

Published 2005

About

This is one of those odd dishes that are easier to cook than to eat. Blue crabs take a lot of work; but they’re so delicious they’re worth the effort. If you live on the West Coast, you’ll probably use Dungeness crab, which will be easier.

Ingredients

Salt to taste
20 live blue crabs
2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine or dry sherry

Asia
China
Fish course
Pescatarian

Method

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt. Boil the crabs for about a minute (you may have to do this in batches), then rinse them in cold water. Combine the wine, scallions, and ginger slices in a large bowl and add the crabs. For the dipping sauce, combine the minced ginger with the soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and sugar and stir to blend. Let sit for about