su – Cracked Crab with Lemongrass, Black Pepper, and Basil
Photo: Peden & Munk; Styling: Amy Wilson

 

Total Time 1 hr 15 mins
AuthorElaine Johnson

Big, bold Southeast Asian flavors team up in a perfect balance of salty, sweet, hot, and aromatic.

How to Make It

Step 1
1

Chop lemongrass. Put in a food processor with ginger and garlic; whirl until minced. Scrape into a large bowl and stir in honey, soy sauce, and pepper. Add crabs and stir to coat well. Cover, then chill at least 15 minutes or up to 1 hour.

Step 2
2

Pour oil into a 14-in. wok or a wide 8- to 10-qt. pot over medium-high heat. With a slotted spoon, add crabs (reserve marinade). Cover and cook, stirring often, 5 minutes (omit this cooking time if using fully cooked crabs).

Step 3
3

Uncover pan, add marinade, and cook, stirring often, until crabs are steaming and meat is opaque, about 5 minutes.

Step 4
4

Stir in cilantro and basil, then transfer crabs and juices to a serving bowl.

Step 5
5

Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

Ingredients

 2 stalks fresh lemongrass, ends trimmed and coarse leaves discarded
 2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
 1/4 cup honey
 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
 3 fully cooked Dungeness crabs (about 2 lbs. each), cleaned, legs cracked, and bodies quartered
 3 tablespoons peanut oil or vegetable oil
 1 cup loosely packed cilantro sprigs
 1 cup loosely packed Thai basil leaves or small regular basil leaves

Directions

Step 1
1

Chop lemongrass. Put in a food processor with ginger and garlic; whirl until minced. Scrape into a large bowl and stir in honey, soy sauce, and pepper. Add crabs and stir to coat well. Cover, then chill at least 15 minutes or up to 1 hour.

Step 2
2

Pour oil into a 14-in. wok or a wide 8- to 10-qt. pot over medium-high heat. With a slotted spoon, add crabs (reserve marinade). Cover and cook, stirring often, 5 minutes (omit this cooking time if using fully cooked crabs).

Step 3
3

Uncover pan, add marinade, and cook, stirring often, until crabs are steaming and meat is opaque, about 5 minutes.

Step 4
4

Stir in cilantro and basil, then transfer crabs and juices to a serving bowl.

Step 5
5

Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

Cracked Crab with Lemongrass, Black Pepper, and Basil

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