Crab and scallops are seafood that many people love because of their sweet and fragrant meat. Crab and scallops can be cooked into many delicious dishes such as tamarind sauce/stir-fried, grilled, stir-fried, steamed… among which steaming is the most popular method as it is quick, easy, and simple. However, not every woman knows the trick of steaming crab properly to make it fragrant and delicious without any fishy smell or dryness.
The restaurant chef said that steaming crab and scallops is not difficult, but if you use the wrong type of water to steam, it will surely make the dish less attractive. Many people often use hot water to steam crab and scallops to save time, reduce fishiness, but that’s not the case.
The chef believes that the best way to steam crab and scallops is with cold water, because cold water will make the crab cook slowly and evenly, the sweet water of the crab will not be lost. If you use hot water to pour in, it will cause the temperature to rise suddenly, the crab will not be cooked evenly, and the sweet water inside the crab will flow away. In addition, sudden heat will cause them to lose their legs. Using cold water to steam crab will keep the crab moist, enhancing the freshness and attractiveness of the dish.
When steaming crab and scallops, it is also important to pay attention to how to arrange them on the steaming tray properly. To steam crab and scallops, do the following: prepare a steaming pot, pour water into the pot, add a little ginger and pepper to the water. Arrange the crab on the steaming tray and place it in the pot. Before arranging the crab, put some ginger or lemongrass if desired beneath the crab. When arranging the crab, it is necessary to turn the belly of the crab upward, and the main part should be placed downward. While many women often flip the belly of the crab downward for a better-looking presentation, this method is wrong. Turning the belly of the crab upward will help the crab cook evenly and the delicious water will be retained inside the crab without flowing out.
After arranging the crab, you can sprinkle some more ginger on top. Finally, sprinkle a little salt. Place the steaming tray into the pot.
Turn on the heat and steam the crab. After the water boils, steam the crab for an additional 5-8 minutes, depending on the size of the crab. Therefore, the total steaming time is from 10 to 15 minutes for delicious crab and scallops. In addition, adding pepper and ginger when steaming crab helps the crab to be fragrant and the meat to be tender and sweet, without any fishy smell.
When the crab and scallops are cooked, enjoy them right away while they are still hot with salted lime or chili sauce, green chili and salt as desired.
According to Vietnamese Women