Beer-Steamed Crabs

Name: Beer-Steamed Crabs
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: serves 2-4
Ingredients: 4 tbsp. fish sauce; 2 small red or green Thai chiles, stemmed and sliced into thin rings; Juice of 2 limes; 12 live blue crabs (about 4 lbs.); 4 (12-oz.) bottles of lager beer; 2 tsp. kosher salt; 10 cloves garlic, smashed; 3 Thai chiles, stemmed and split; 1 bunch cilantro; 2 limes, halved

Serves
serves 2-4

ANDRÉ BARANOWSKI

In this dish, fresh blue crabs are steamed in a flavorful mixture of chile, garlic, lime, and beer.

Ingredients

For the Dipping Sauce

4 tbsp. fish sauce
2 small red or green Thai chiles, stemmed and sliced into thin rings
Juice of 2 limes

For the Crabs

12 live blue crabs (about 4 lbs.)
4 (12-oz.) bottles of lager beer
2 tsp. kosher salt
10 cloves garlic, smashed
3 Thai chiles, stemmed and split
1 bunch cilantro
2 limes, halved

ADVERTISEMENTAD

Instructions

Step 1

First, make the dipping sauce: Whisk together fish sauce, chiles, and lime juice. Set aside.

Step 2

Rinse crabs under running water. Pour beer into a 6-quart pot; bring to a boil over high heat. Add salt, garlic, chiles, and cilantro. Squeeze in juice from halved limes; add limes.

Step 3

Add crabs to pot; cook, covered, until they turn a vibrant reddish-orange, about 8 minutes. Using tongs, transfer crabs to a platter. Serve with sauce. (See How to Eat Blue Crab), for instructions on eating this dish.