Chilli crab
 A plate of chilli crab | |
| Type | Seafood |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Singapore |
| Associated national cuisine | Malaysia, Singapore |
| Created by | Cher Yam Tian |
| Serving temperature | Hot, with a side of Mantou |
| Main ingredients | Crab, chilli, egg |
| Variations | Black pepper crab |
Chilli crab (Chinese: 辣椒螃蟹; pinyin: làjiāo pángxiè; Malay: Ketam cili) is a Southeast Asian seafood dish that originated in Singapore in the 1960s. It is widely associated as the national cuisines of both Malaysia and Singapore. Mud crabs are commonly used and are stir-fried in a semi-thick, sweet and savoury tomato-and-chilli-based sauce.
Origins
In 1956, Cher Yam Tian and her husband Lim Choo Ngee[1] began selling stir-fried crabs mixed with bottled chilli and tomato sauce from a pushcart. This was an improvised recipe; the original one did not involve bottled chilli sauce.[2] A successful business selling this dish prompted the establishment of a restaurant, Palm Beach Seafood, along Upper East Coast Road.[2] The version most widespread today was created by Hooi Kok Wah in the 1960s, one of four famous Singapore chefs during the era.[3]
In September 2009, Ng Yen Yen, Malaysia's Tourism Minister, claimed that, among other dishes, "chilli crab is Malaysian", accusing "other countries" of "hijacking our food".[4]
Description
Chilli crab sauce is described as "sensuous" and "sweet, yet savoury", with a "fluffy texture".[5] Mud crabs (Scylla serrata) are the most common type of crabs used for the dish, although other species of crab can also be used.[5]
It is commonly served with a side of either fried or steamed mantou buns, which are used to scoop up the sauce.[6]
Cultural impact
CNN Go listed chilli crab as one of the "world's 50 most delicious foods", at Number 35.[7] Michelin inspectors dedicate a page to chilli crab on their website.[3]
The Amazing Race 25, The Amazing Race Asia 4, and The Amazing Race China 4 featured a task that required contestants to crack a specified amount of chilli crabs.[8] Chilli crab was also featured on the Netflix TV series Street Food in season 1.[9]
See also
References
- ^ "Singapore's Best Chilli Crab Is in a 60-Year-Old Public Housing Complex". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ a b "40 good years dishing up chilli crabs". The Straits Times. 23 June 1996. p. 5. Archived from the original on 2013-09-25. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
- ^ a b "Where To Eat Chilli Crab In Singapore". MICHELIN Guide. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
- ^ Teh, Eng Hock (September 17, 2009). "Laksa and nasi lemak among our pride, says Yen Yen". The Star. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013.
- ^ a b "Chilli Crab". YourSingapore. Archived from the original on 2013-05-14. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- ^ "Chilli crab, mantou wow MasterChef Australia's George Calombaris in Singapore | Singapore Showbiz - Yahoo Entertainment Singapore". 2014-10-29. Archived from the original on 2014-10-29. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
- ^ CNN Go World's 50 most delicious foods Archived 2011-10-08 at the Wayback Machine 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-11
- ^ Field, Sonya (November 29, 2014). "'The Amazing Race' season 25, episode 9 recap: Committing race suicide". Hypable. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ Tan, John (25 April 2019). "Local putu piring stall featured in new Netflix show Street Food". SPH Digital News. The New Paper. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
