Roasted Crab

Roasted Crab
Crustacean and Than Long, both located in San Francisco, California is really famous for their crab and garlic noodles. We have eaten here 3-4  times from the last 15 years and never came back after around 2009-2010, I think. My niece would always cook it once or twice a year since she has copied the recipe and from then on, we have never seen it. At the same time, never again I would spend or pay for about $50 per person now just to get crab and noodles especially I also kind of copied the recipe, a little modified though. It may not be exactly like Chef Mama An’s(founder and owner) recipe but I think it is close enough for us to enjoy (wink, wink). I just think that as long as you got fresh ones, you can never go wrong with enjoying them because that is really a big factor. For me, Crab like any other seafoods, already has it’s own distinctive flavor. No need for too much seasoning. As long as you cook them right, perfect timing, perfect seasoning, that’s all you need, and cook the way you want them to whether Vietnamese, Mexican or Filipino style. Do whatever makes you happy. ;p…Just make sure you got the skills in cracking the shell, peeling and pulling the meat out of it up to the last and smallest piece to enjoy them.
fresh live crabs
fresh boiled crab
Prep Time: 10-15 minutes

Cooking Time: 75-90 minutes

Servings: 3-4

Ingredients:

  • 2 pcs of dungeoness crab(1 pc weighs around 1.5-2 lbs)
  • 1/4 stick unsalted butter/2 tablespoons
  • 3 tbsp cooking oil
  • 4-6 pcs of garlic cloves(crushed and chopped)
  • 2 tsps ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp sugar
  •  8 pcs of fresh thai basil leaves
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp cup crab fat paste
  • 1 tsp pink salt

freshly baked crabs

freshly-baked crabshell(also called as carapace)

freshly-baked crabshell(also called as carapace)

Directions:

–  Rinse, scrub n wash crab using either a clean spare toothbrush or vegetable brush. Make sure to scrub those between the legs.

– Boil  2-3 cups of water for 10 minutes. Put the basil leaves and crab in the pot and cover then boil for another 10 minutes each side. Once cooked, drain (make sure to save the crab broth and let it cool for a little bit. You will use some to add to the sauce) 

– Once crab has cooled down, take out the shell(called the carapace) first. (Watch out for the juice and some fat from inside crab, pour into small bowl n save for later). Set aside. Take out the lungs off. It is the white one that looks like a cone and it is spongy. Then take out the mouth part(called mandibles). It is the part by the mouth area and the surrounding parts next to it. Crack them and take them off. Toss. Chop the crab into 2 pieces.

  • Heat up oven to 350 degrees

– In the meantime, heat up the butter in a pot in low heat and sautee the garlic.  Add in the crab fat paste, then the crab broth(be mindful of not putting too much), sugar and lemon juice. Stir well. Drop and cook the crab for about 10-15 minutes while pouring the sauce all over it. Turn off

– Put crabs and sauce altogether in a baking pan, make sure there’s enough space to baste them while baking. If the sauce is too thick, you might want to add about 2-3 tbsps of the crab broth or water. This prevents the sauce from drying out. Cover with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes. Make sure to pour sauce over on top while baking. Once should be good.

– Serve hot with garlic noodles. (Click here for the  recipe)

Bon Appetit!

Roasted Crab

Tips:

  • When buying crabs, make sure to ask the staff or look for the female crab. Female has the rounder cape or some call it apron,  in its body where male crab has a pointy one. That’s if you like to eat the roe or eggs. Some won’t have it as they only sell male ones due to the fact that they put back female for more reproduction and keep population up
  • You can also use the top shell if you want to use for presentation. We do this in the blue crab ones and make an omelette. Although that is really time-consuming to make
  • The baking part only took 25 minutes here since there’s only 2 pieces of crab. If you are baking more than 2, make sure to bake at least 12-15 minutes per crab. So if you’re baking 4 you will double the baking time
  • Using baking pan, make sure you have enough room to baste it with sauce while baking
  • When picking the meat up to the last and smallest part, use the crab foot/toe to pick the meat out. No need to buy those small pick they sell from the store. Cracker is all you need
  • Boiling versus Steaming – I prefer boiling since I use them for the crab broth for the sauce I am making otherwise If we’re gonna eat the crabs with just plain lemon and butter. I’d go with steaming but cooking takes longer though. In the Philippines, just steaming it and dipping them in vinegar packed with crush garlic, ohhhh everybody would be in heaven…;p
  • The crab broth should be not too thick or not too soupy
  • This is great with drinking Pino Grigio or Sauvignon to pair it with. It is kind of dry which complements the taste from the crab and noodles

I like setting up the table prepared with the right tools and gadgets ;-p

I like setting up the table prepared with the right tools and gadgets ;-p

“Cookery is not chemistry. It is an Art. It requires instinct and taste rather than exact measurements”. – Xavier Marcel Boulestin (French Chef)

84 Comments

  1. Good post. I study one thing more difficult on totally different blogs everyday. It should at all times be stimulating to read content material from other writers and follow a little bit something from their store. I’d prefer to make use of some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll offer you a link on your net blog. Thanks for sharing.

  2. Great – I should definitely pronounce, impressed with your site. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs as well as related information ended up being truly easy to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it in the least. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or anything, site theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Excellent task.

  3. Hey! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to look it over. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Fantastic blog and amazing design and style.

  4. I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your blog. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme? Great work!

  5. Hello, you used to write great, but the last few posts have been kinda boring… I miss your great writings. Past several posts are just a little bit out of track! come on!

  6. To the foodfashionandme.com webmaster, You always provide great examples and real-world applications, thank you for your valuable contributions.

  7. Fantastic goods from you, man. I’ve be mindful your stuff prior to and you’re simply too excellent. I actually like what you’ve obtained right here, really like what you’re saying and the way in which during which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you continue to take care of to keep it sensible. I cant wait to read much more from you. That is actually a great site.

  8. Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read anything like this before. So nice to search out any person with some unique thoughts on this subject. realy thank you for starting this up. this web site is something that is needed on the web, somebody with a little originality. useful job for bringing something new to the web!

  9. Thanks for the points you have contributed here. Something else I would like to say is that personal computer memory needs generally increase along with other advances in the technology. For instance, whenever new generations of processor chips are introduced to the market, there is certainly usually a related increase in the scale calls for of both computer memory in addition to hard drive room. This is because the software operated by simply these processor chips will inevitably increase in power to benefit from the new know-how.

  10. The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a 30 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it with someone!

  11. I precisely had to thank you so much once again. I’m not certain the things I would have accomplished without these information revealed by you concerning my situation. It was a real alarming difficulty in my opinion, nevertheless seeing the skilled manner you dealt with that took me to jump for happiness. I am thankful for the work and even trust you really know what a great job you happen to be doing instructing men and women through your web site. More than likely you have never come across all of us.

  12. Thanks for ones marvelous posting! I truly enjoyed reading it, you’re a great author.I will ensure that I bookmark your blog and will come back down the road. I want to encourage yourself to continue your great job, have a nice weekend!

  13. What i do not realize is in reality how you are no longer really much more neatly-liked than you might be now. You’re so intelligent. You realize therefore considerably in relation to this topic, produced me for my part imagine it from numerous various angles. Its like women and men are not involved unless it抯 one thing to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs excellent. Always deal with it up!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *