How to cook Chili Crab
1
Prepare the crab
Clean the crab, remove the gills, and crack the claws so the sauce can penetrate.
2
Build the sauce
Sauté onion, garlic, and ginger in oil. Stir in tomato sauce, sweet chili sauce, chili paste, stock, soy sauce, and sugar.
3
Cook the crab
Add crab, cover, and simmer for 10–12 minutes, turning once, until the shells are bright and meat is opaque.
4
Thicken
Stir in the cornstarch slurry. For a silky finish, slowly stream in the beaten egg while stirring gently.
5
Plate
Arrange on an oval platter, spoon over the sauce, and scatter with scallions.
Maria’s tip: Crack the claws before cooking so they are easier to eat and absorb more sauce.
Food safety: Buy live or properly chilled crab from a trusted seller and cook until the meat is opaque and steaming hot.