Food & Receipts

Delicious and Fragrant: The Perfect Way to Cook Grilled Crab with Betel Leaf

By following this approach, the unbelievably crispy and aromatic taste of grilled water spinach stuffed with crab will captivate your senses from the first bite.

Administrator

24 December, 2023

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Secrets to choosing delicious and meaty freshwater crabs

Based on color

According to those who have lived in rural areas since childhood, there are many freshwater crabs with black and orange shells. Therefore, not all gray and muddy-colored crabs are meaty, contrary to popular belief, and not all black or orange crabs are less meaty and have fewer eggs.

Most crabs with orange shells tend to be more meaty.

Based on shape and crab apron

When buying crabs, housewives should choose those with 8 legs and 2 claws, with the claws always pointing upwards.

Especially, choose crabs with a plump body, press the apron under the crab’s belly with your hand, and make sure it doesn’t sink. Crabs like that are usually meatier. On the contrary, do not choose crabs with a sinking apron because they are usually less meaty and not tasty.

Based on the crab’s agility

Assessing the crab’s agility is also a way to choose delicious and fresh crabs. When buying crabs, people should choose ones that move rapidly because those are still alive and healthy. Do not buy crabs that cannot move or move slowly because they are weak and may die soon.

Do not cook crabs that are already dead because they will have a fishy smell, which ruins the taste of the dish. Moreover, they can negatively affect the digestive system when consumed.

How to make delicious grilled crabs in betel leaf at home

Preparation:

The ingredients to make this dish are quite simple. To make delicious grilled crabs in betel leaf, you need to prepare the following ingredients:

Freshwater crabs
Betel leaves
Fish sauce
Vegetable oil
Seasonings to create the distinctive flavor.

Preparation:

First, rinse the freshwater crabs with water. Then, remove the main part (back shell of the crab) and the apron (the part under the crab’s belly). Next, rinse the betel leaves and cut them into small pieces of about 5-10mm.

Separate the back shell and apron, pick out the eggs and roe (be careful to keep the fatty layer on the crab’s back). Put the separated apron into a bowl and marinate it with 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon of MSG for about 10 minutes to infuse the flavors.

To make delicious grilled crabs in betel leaf, use fish sauce and marinade the crabs with it for about 10 minutes. Then, add some cooking oil to a pan and grill the crabs. Remember to flip them evenly to ensure they cook thoroughly without getting burnt.

Next, when the crabs are almost cooked, add the betel leaves and continue grilling them with the crabs. Toss them for about 5 minutes until the betel leaves are slightly dried.

After grilling, arrange the crabs on a plate and decorate them with a few raw betel leaves. Additionally, you can use chopped Vietnamese mint and fresh chili to garnish and serve with the dish.

Finished product

When eating, you can eat the crabs alone or wrap them in betel leaves to enjoy. Furthermore, you can use chili sauce, soy sauce, or satay sauce as dipping sauces. Each sauce will give you a different, wonderful flavor experience.

When you try this dish, you will taste the unique flavor of fresh and crispy grilled crabs combined with the distinctive aroma of betel leaves. The harmonious and delicate flavor of this dish is perfect for gatherings or weekend family meals.

Especially when eating grilled crabs in betel leaf, you can also enjoy pickled eggplant, which goes very well with the dish. That is both the advantage and disadvantage of this special dish.

Grilled crabs in betel leaf are not only delicious but also have important nutritional value. They are rich in calcium, which helps prevent calcium deficiency and can supplement calcium for the elderly, reducing the risk of osteoporosis. Moreover, crabs contain a variety of vitamins, minerals, phosphorus, glucose, lipids, proteins, and other nutrients.

In addition, betel leaves have the effect of dispelling cold and strengthening the bones and tendons, making them very suitable for the elderly and reducing joint pain.

It can be said that grilled crabs in betel leaf are both delicious and nutritious. For those who love exploring cuisine, this is definitely a must-try dish. Try it and savor the wonderful flavor, you won’t be disappointed.