Steamed Blue Crabs with Black Ginger Dipping Sauce
Fresh blue crabs steamed with aromatic cilantro stems and served with a savory-sweet black ginger dipping sauce. This classic Asian-inspired seafood dish serves a crowd and makes for an impressive feast.
Ingredients
- •½ cup fresh cilantro stems
- •36 whole live blue crabs
- •1¾ tablespoons fresh ginger
- •½ cup fermented soy sauce
- •¼ cup sugar
- •¼ cup water
- •3 tablespoons Chinese black vinegar
- •¼ teaspoon salt
- •1 piece heavy pot with lid
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Bring 1 1/2 inches water to a boil in pot. Add cilantro stems, then carefully add half of crabs using tongs and return to a boil. Cook, covered with lid, 8 minutes (for 1/4-pound crabs) to 10 minutes (for 1/3-pound crabs) from time they enter water. (Break shell of 1 claw to check for doneness; crabmeat should be opaque.) Transfer crabs with long-handled tongs to a large platter, reserving cooking liquid in pot, and keep warm, loosely covered with foil. Cook remaining crabs in same manner.
20 min
- 2.
While crabs cook, stir together ginger (to taste), soy sauce, sugar, water, vinegar, and salt in a small bowl until sugar and salt are dissolved.
5 min
- 3.
If necessary, dip crabs in cooking liquid to remove any external residue, then transfer to another large platter. Serve crabs hot, with dipping sauce.
5 min
- 4.
*We recommend Gold Plum brand, available at Asian markets and Kam Man Food Products (212-571-0330).