Taucheo Flower Crabs

Steamed flower crabs in taucheo chilli is one of many of my mum’s signature dishes. The taucheo (soya bean paste) chilli sauce is so easy to make with only three ingredients (taucheo, chilli padi and garlic). It is also very versatile and can be used in many other stir-fry dishes such as with pork or yong tau foo.

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Taucheo Flower Crabs

I like to drizzle the spicy and savoury sauce over my rice. Flower crabs are used and not only are they cheap locally, they are quite meaty too.

Step-by-Step Photos
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Cooking Taucheo Flower Crabs

Remove the crab shell and cut it in two along the center. Remove and discard the spongy gills.

Cooking Taucheo Flower Crabs

Using an electric blender, grind the garlic and chilli until finely chopped.

Cooking Taucheo Flower Crabs

Add in taucheo and blend until a paste is formed.

Cooking Taucheo Flower Crabs

Heat oil in wok, and stir fry taucheo paste until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Cooking Taucheo Flower Crabs

Add flower crab pieces to the wok and stir fry briefly to coat them in the taucheo sauce.

Cooking Taucheo Flower Crabs

Add water and bring to a simmer. Cover the wok with lid and let the crabs steam for about 15 minutes. If the water dries up at any time during steaming, add more water. When the crab is cooked, you can also stir in a beaten egg to mix in with the sauce (I didn’t add egg on this occasion).

Ingredients:

  • 3 to 4 flower crabs (花蟹)
  • 8 cloves garlic peeled
  • 4 chilli padi to taste
  • 1 tbsp taucheo (soy bean paste/ 豆酱)
  • 2 tbsp cooking oil
  • 500ml water
  • 1 egg beaten (optional)

Directions:

  1. Remove the crab shell and cut it in two along the center. Remove and discard the spongy gills.
  2. To make the tacheo chilli paste, use an electric blender to grind the garlic and chilli until finely chopped. Add in taucheo and blend until a paste is formed. Alternatively, use a mortar and pestle.
  3. Heat oil in wok, and stir fry taucheo paste prepared until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  4. Add flower crab pieces to the wok and stir fry briefly to coat them in the taucheo sauce.
  5. Add water and bring to a simmer. Cover the wok with lid and let the crabs steam for about 15 minutes. If the water dries up at any time during steaming, add more water. When the crab is cooked, stir in a beaten egg to mix in with the sauce.