Description
This Garlic Butter Crab with Sweet Chili Sauce delivers pure indulgence with succulent crab pieces tossed in a rich, buttery, garlicky sauce spiked with sweet heat. Perfect for a seafood feast, this dish is vibrant, flavorful, and guaranteed to impress at any gathering.
Ingredients
4 medium-size live crabs such as blue crab, mud crab, Dungeness, snow crab, or king crab, frozen pre-cooked crabs also work
1 thumb-size piece of ginger, sliced
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
Water for boiling
For the Garlic Butter Sauce:
2 bulbs garlic, finely chopped
1 cup unsalted butter, can be reduced to ½ cup if preferred
⅓ cup sweet chili sauce, preferably Thai
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
2 teaspoons chicken powder or ¼ piece chicken bouillon cube
Dash of liquid seasoning, optional
Salt and pepper, to taste
½ cup water, optional to thin the sauce
Instructions
Soak the live crabs in tap water for about 30 minutes to purge impurities.
Place the crabs in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes to put them to sleep for easier handling.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the ginger slices and black peppercorns.
Add the crabs to the boiling water and cook for 5 to 10 minutes until they float.
Immediately transfer the cooked crabs into an ice bath to stop the cooking process.
Clean the crabs by removing the top shell, cutting them in half, saving the crab fat for the sauce, removing the gills, and cracking the claws slightly.
In a large pan, melt the butter over medium heat.
Add the finely chopped garlic and cook until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
Stir in the sweet chili sauce, oyster sauce, and chicken powder. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Optionally, add up to ½ cup water to create a thinner sauce.
Add the cleaned crab halves and the reserved crab fat into the sauce. Toss for 3 to 5 minutes until well coated and heated through.
Serve hot either on its own or over steamed rice.
Notes
Frozen pre-cooked crabs can be used if live crabs are unavailable; simply thaw and clean before tossing in the sauce.
For an extra garlicky flavor, you can add another bulb of garlic if you love intense garlic dishes.
If you like your sauce spicier, mix a bit of sriracha or chili oil into the butter sauce.
The sauce can also be made in advance and reheated gently when ready to serve.
Pair with a crisp, cold drink like a citrusy beer or sparkling water to balance the richness.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Boiling and Sautéing
- Cuisine: Asian, Fusion