Ingredients for Crab Soup
Mud crabs: 500g (choose live, fresh, and active crabs)
Water spinach: 1 bunch (or water mimosa, or Malabar spinach according to your preference)
Tomatoes: 2 ripe red ones
Red shallots: 2 bulbs
Crab roe: Taken from the mud crabs (if available)
Seasonings: Salt, sugar, MSG, pepper, fish sauce
Cooking oil: 2 tablespoons
Water: About 1.5 liters
Equipment:
Pot, pan, blender or mortar and pestle, strainer
How to Cook Delicious Crab Soup
Step 1: Prepare the mud crabs
Rinse the crabs with cold water to remove any dirt.
Separate the crab shells and set the roe (yellow part) aside in a small bowl.
Pound or blend the remaining crab parts (chelae, body, and gills) finely. Note: If pounding by hand, add a pinch of salt to make the process easier.
Mix the pounded crab with about 1 liter of water, stir well, and then strain to obtain crab broth, discarding the solids.
Step 2: Prepare the other ingredients
Water spinach: Pluck the leaves and tender stems, rinse, and drain. You may cut them into bite-sized pieces.
Tomatoes: Rinse and cut into wedges.
Red shallots: Peel and mince.
Step 3: Boil the crab broth
Gently boil the crab broth over medium heat. As it cooks, the crab meat will coagulate into lumps (called “crab curds”).
When the crab curds float to the top, gently scoop them out into a separate bowl. Strain the broth again to remove any remaining solids.
Step 4: Fry the crab roe
Heat a pan over the stove and add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. Fry the minced shallots until fragrant, then add the crab roe and stir until it turns a beautiful orange-yellow color. Season with a pinch of salt and MSG. Turn off the heat and set aside.
Step 5: Cook the soup
Reheat the strained crab broth. Season with 1 teaspoon each of salt, sugar, and fish sauce, and 1/2 teaspoon of MSG. Adjust the seasoning to your taste.
Add the tomatoes to the pot and cook for about 3-5 minutes until they soften and release their color.
Put in the water spinach and cook for another 2-3 minutes until just tender but still crisp.
Return the crab curds to the pot and add the fried crab roe on top. Simmer for 1 more minute and then turn off the heat.
Step 6: Serve and enjoy
Ladle the soup into bowls and sprinkle some ground pepper on top for extra aroma.
Serve with hot rice, a side of chili fish sauce, and some pickled vegetables for a complete and satisfying meal.
Tips for Cooking Delicious Crab Soup at Home
Choose fresh mud crabs with plenty of roe for a richer, more savory soup.
Do not overcook the vegetables to retain their green color and crisp texture.
You can substitute water spinach with water mimosa or Malabar spinach according to your preference.
If you like a slight sourness, add 1-2 teaspoons of fermented rice paste or tamarind paste when seasoning the soup.
Good luck, and enjoy your delicious crab soup!
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