Cù kỳ is an unusual name for a species of crab, a delicacy in Quang Ninh, and a relatively inexpensive and tasty seafood. Let’s explore everything about this unique crustacean, including its price, where to buy it, and how to prepare delicious dishes with it.
1 What is a Cù Kỳ?
Cù kỳ is a species of crab found in the warm waters of Malaysia and Indonesia, and in Vietnam, it is typically caught in the coastal provinces of Quang Ninh and Khanh Hoa. It is a delicacy in Quang Ninh, known for its affordable price and delicious taste, which is often preferred over regular crab.
Cù kỳ crabs have a brown shell, bright green eyes, and two large pincers.
There are two common types of cù kỳ: the black cù kỳ (also known as hairy cù kỳ) and the red cù kỳ. They are primarily found in rock crevices and move rather slowly, firmly attaching themselves to rocks and other surfaces.
Cù kỳ crabs can be identified by their brown shell, bright green eyes, and large pincers. Their appearance can be quite striking, with a body size of up to 12cm. They feed on small plankton and crustaceans and are considered pests in aquaculture farms.
Cù kỳ crabs are often found in rock crevices, coastal cliffs, and mangrove forests.
Cù kỳ crabs are also found in aquaculture farms, floating houses, and breakwaters. While their meat is not as sweet as that of regular crab, it is considered tastier than that of a female crab. However, the edible meat is mostly found in the pincers, with very little in the body.
2 Cù Kỳ Price and Where to Buy
Cù kỳ crabs are typically sold at seafood markets and stores. Availability may vary depending on the season. Here are some places to buy them in Ho Chi Minh City:
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Am Thuc Hai Son: 173A Duong Hiep Binh, Hiep Binh Chanh, Thu Duc
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Hai San Sach 24h Seamart: Lo D, Chung cu Ha Do, Nguyen Van Cong, Ward 3, Go Vap
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Thuy Hai San Ong Giau: 28 Duong So 9, Khu pho 5, Thu Duc
Price of cù kỳ crabs
The price of cù kỳ crabs varies depending on the season and the type. Here are the average prices:
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Small cù kỳ crabs (9 crabs/kg): 90,000–110,000 VND/kg, or about 19,000 VND/crab
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Large cù kỳ crabs (5–6 crabs/kg): 120,000–170,000 VND/kg
3 Delicious Dishes Made with Cù Kỳ
Steamed Cù Kỳ
Cooking time: 15 minutes Preparation time: 30 minutes Serves: 3 people
Ingredients:
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1–2 kg of cù kỳ crabs
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½ can of beer
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2 stalks of lemongrass
Instructions:
Step 1: Rinse the cù kỳ crabs thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt and mud. Use a brush to clean the shell and pincers if needed. Pat them dry and set aside. Pound the lemongrass and cut the chili peppers into segments.
Step 2: In a pot, pour in the beer and arrange the crabs, lemongrass, and chili peppers. Steam for 10–15 minutes until the crabs turn a beautiful brick-red color. Serve with chili sauce on the side.
Final product:
The steamed cù kỳ crabs will have a bright orange-red color and are best served with a spicy-sour dipping sauce made with salt, pepper, and lime.
Steamed cù kỳ crabs
Boiled Cù Kỳ
Cooking time: 15 minutes Preparation time: 20 minutes Serves: 3 people
Ingredients:
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2 kg of fresh cù kỳ crabs
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2 stalks of lemongrass
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2 ginger roots
Instructions:
Step 1: Clean the cù kỳ crabs thoroughly and use a brush to scrub the shell and pincers if needed. Rinse the lemongrass and cut it into segments, pounding it slightly. Peel and slice the ginger.
Step 2: In a pot, arrange the crabs and add the lemongrass and ginger around them. Pour in just enough water to cover the crabs and boil for 5 minutes. Let the crabs sit in the hot water for another 1–2 minutes to ensure they are fully cooked.
Final product:
The boiled cù kỳ crabs will have an attractive orange-red color. They can be served with chili sauce or a dipping sauce made with salt, pepper, and lime.
Boiled cù kỳ crabs
Grilled Cù Kỳ
Cooking time: 35 minutes Preparation time: 20 minutes Serves: 3 people
Ingredients:
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1–2 kg of cù kỳ crabs
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2 stalks of lemongrass
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2 chili peppers
Instructions:
Step 1: Clean the cù kỳ crabs thoroughly and pat them dry. Prepare the lemongrass and chili peppers as mentioned above.
Step 2: In a steamer, bring water to a boil and place the crabs, lemongrass, and chili peppers inside. Steam for 10–15 minutes until the crabs are cooked.
Step 3: Prepare a charcoal grill and let the coals burn until they are covered with ash. Place the steamed crabs on the grill and cook until the shell turns a brown color.
Final product:
Serve the grilled cù kỳ crabs with a dipping sauce made with salt, pepper, lime, or chili sauce.
Grilled cù kỳ crabs
Cù Kỳ in Tamarind Sauce
Cooking time: 20 minutes Preparation time: 15 minutes Serves: 3 people
Ingredients:
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2 kg of cù kỳ crab pincers
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1 shallot
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1 stalk of cilantro
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3 tablespoons of tamarind paste
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Seasonings: sugar, seasoning powder, chili, fish sauce
Instructions:
Step 1: Clean the crab pincers and pat them dry. Peel and slice the shallot. Rinse and chop the cilantro.
Step 2: In a pan, heat some oil and fry the shallot until fragrant. Add the crab pincers and stir-fry for 5–10 minutes.
Step 3: In a separate pan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil and add the tamarind paste, seasoning powder, sugar, fish sauce, water, and chili. Stir for 5 minutes until you have a thick sauce.
Final product:
The cù kỳ crab pincers in tamarind sauce are best served with chili sauce to enhance the flavor.
Cù kỳ crab pincers in tamarind sauce
Now that you know all about cù kỳ crabs, including their price, where to buy them, and how to prepare delicious dishes, it’s time to impress your family and friends with these unique and tasty crab recipes.
Frequently asked questions
Cù kỳ is a species of crab found in the warm waters of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. It is a delicacy in Quang Ninh, Vietnam, known for its affordable price and delicious taste. They have a brown shell, bright green eyes, and two large pincers. There are two common types: black cù kỳ and red cù kỳ. They are typically found in rock crevices and slow-moving, firmly attaching themselves to surfaces.
Cù kỳ crabs have a distinctive appearance with their brown shell, bright green eyes, and large pincers. Their body size can reach up to 12cm, and they are considered pests in aquaculture farms as they feed on small plankton and crustaceans.
Cù kỳ crabs are often found in their natural habitat, which includes rock crevices, coastal cliffs, and mangrove forests. They are also commonly found in aquaculture farms, floating houses, and breakwaters.
The price of cù kỳ crabs varies depending on the season and type. On average, small cù kỳ crabs (9 crabs/kg) cost 90,000–110,000 VND/kg, while large cù kỳ crabs (5–6 crabs/kg) range from 120,000–170,000 VND/kg. You can find them for sale at seafood markets and stores in Ho Chi Minh City, such as Am Thuc Hai Son, Hai San Sach 24h Seamart, and Thuy Hai San Ong Giau.
There are several delicious ways to prepare cù kỳ crabs, including steaming, boiling, grilling, and cooking them in a tamarind sauce. Each method has its own unique set of ingredients and instructions, which are provided in detail within this FAQ.
With cù kỳ crabs, you can create a variety of tasty dishes. Some examples are steamed cù kỳ, boiled cù kỳ, grilled cù kỳ, and cù kỳ crab pincers in tamarind sauce. Each dish has its own cooking time, preparation time, and serving amount, so you can choose the one that best suits your preferences and occasion.
The cooking time for steamed cù kỳ is approximately 10 to 15 minutes. This ensures that the crabs are cooked thoroughly and attain a beautiful brick-red color.
To make a spicy-sour dipping sauce for steamed cù kỳ crabs, simply combine salt, pepper, and lime juice to taste. This sauce perfectly complements the flavor of the steamed crabs.
When boiled, cù kỳ crabs take on an attractive orange-red color. They can be served with chili sauce or a dipping sauce made with salt, pepper, and lime.
The third step is to prepare a charcoal grill and allow the coals to burn until they are covered with ash. Once the coals are ready, place the steamed crabs on the grill and cook them until the shell turns brown.
To enhance the flavor of the cù kỳ crab pincers in tamarind sauce, it is recommended to serve them with chili sauce on the side. This adds a spicy kick to the dish and elevates the overall taste experience.
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