Cracked Crab with Lemongrass, Black Pepper, & Basil Recipe

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

This recipe, and others like it, can be found in the article “From Quick Weeknight Dinners to Festive Dishes, These Are the Best Recipes to Make in December.”

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

Step 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

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

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

Step 4

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

Step 5

Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

Nutrition Facts

0 servings

Serving size

Amount per serving
Calories351

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 13g17%

Saturated Fat 2.1g11%
Cholesterol 163mg55%
Sodium 1060mg47%
Total Carbohydrate 23g9%

Dietary Fiber 2g8%
Protein 35g

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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Cracked Crab with Lemongrass, Black Pepper, and Basil