Chilli Blue Crabs by Aussie Girl Laurie Suarez

Blue Crab = Sand Crab = Blue Swimmer Crab = YUM!

Australian Sand Crabs / Blue Swimmer Crabs v. U.S.A. Blue Crabs

Blue Crabs sold in Australia are huge compared to their North American cousins, due to the comparatively clean and pollution-free waterways, the fact that the crab itself is a slightly different species, and regulations governing the minimum size at which professional and recreational crabbers can keep and sell Blue Swimmer Crabs or Sand Crabs as we call them Down Under.

To get a proper understanding of how big Aussie blue crabs are, you really should come and visit Australia... for now, though, they are about double to triple the size of what is sold as Blue Crab in the United States. So it's a big crab feast Down Under. Cooked Sand Crabs are retailing for AU$ 35.99 /kg at my seafood shop in Australia. That equates to US$ 6.48 /lb for monster-size Blue Crabs. What are you paying where you live?

Sand Crab Girl's Chilli Blue Crab Recipe

Recipe Research

This recipe was devised by cooking several dozen Chilli Mud Crab recipes, and several dozen Sand Crab Recipes, including traditional Singaporean, Malaysian, and Australian versions... with some recipes from the United States and Canada for Blue Crab (hard shell and soft shell). Sarcasm: 'Oh I suffered for this dish!'

Ingredients for 2 Adults to Feast:

• 6 'A' Grade Uncooked or 'Green' (Raw) Australian Sand Crabs / Blue Swimmer Crabs (or 10-12 USA hard shell Blue Crabs).

• Any Vegetables you enjoy that are suited to stir-frying: sliced long and about the same size e.g. Capsicum (Peppers) / Onion / Fennel Bulb / Carrot.

• 3 tablespoons neutral Oil for stir-frying

• 4 cloves Garlic, freshly minced

• 2-inch piece of Ginger freshly minced or 1 tablespoon (minced Ginger from a jar)

• 3 long Chilli Peppers, finely chopped

• 1 tablespoon Chilli Paste for stir-fries

• 1 cup Tomato Sauce /Ketchup

• 1/2 cup Seafood or Chicken Stock (low sodium)

• 1 tablespoon Tamari (a type of Soy Sauce)

• 2 tablespoons Oyster Sauce

• 2 tablespoons Brown or Palm Sugar

• 1 egg, beaten

• Salt and Pepper

• 2 cups Water (room temperature) with 2 tablespoons Cornflour (cornstarch) mixed in

• Your Choice of 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh Coriander leaves (cilantro) to garnish (and or) 1/2 cup finely chopped Spring Onions (green onions) to garnish (and or) 1/2 cup fresh Mint leaves whole to garnish

Sand Crab Laurie's Method for Chilli Blue Crab

• Clean the raw Blue Swimmer Crabs, retain the top shells (carapace), the crab mustard, the claws, and the crab bodies quartered or halved.

• Put all ingredients (except the Garnishes, beaten egg, and prepared crab) into a large pot that has a lid - cook on high heat for 10 minutes, with the lid on - stirring occasionally.

• Add all the crab, Cover, and cook further 3 minutes.

• Remove from heat and remove the lid. Stir in beaten egg

• Serve on a huge platter family style, and add your garnish/s.

Serve and enjoy Australian-style chili Blue Crab.