Chilli crab

Chilli crab (Chinese: 辣椒螃蟹; pinyin: làjiāo pángxiè; Malay: Ketam lada, Ketam cabai, Ketam cili) is a Southeast Asian seafood dish that is widely associated with the cuisines of both Malaysia and Singapore.[1] The 20th century version of chili crab could be traced back to the 1950s in Malaysia and Singapore.[1] Mud crabs are commonly used and are stir-fried in a semi-thick, sweet and savoury tomato-and-chilli-based sauce.

Chilli crab
A plate of chilli crab
TypeSeafood
Place of originMalaysia,[1] Singapore[1]
Associated cuisineMalaysia,[1] Singapore[1]
Created byCher Yam Tian (Singapore's version)
Serving temperatureHot, with a side of Mantou
Main ingredientsCrab, chilli, egg
VariationsBlack pepper crab

Origins

The Portuguese only introduced chili pepper to Malacca in the 16th century. Before chili peppers, peppercorn was used by the Malays to add heat and spice to their meals.[2]

Berlada is a spice mixture in Malaysian cuisine that is eaten with all kinds of vegetables and protein. Ketam Berlada has been recognized as Malaysia's Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009.[3] It has been around for generations, and tend to be drier than the chilli crab dishes created in the 20th century.[1]

Weng Fung Seafood Restaurant in the island of Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia was first to offer a chili crab dish in Malaysia since 1958, probably earlier. Weng Fung was established as a Hainanese coffee store in the 1920s. In the 1950s, the second generation converted the coffee store into a seafood restaurant and added a chili crab dish to their menu that is still being serves until now.[1] In 2009, Ng Yen Yen, Malaysia's Tourism Minister, claimed that chilli crab is Malaysian.[4]

On the other hand, in 1956, Cher Yam Tian and her husband Lim Choo Ngee[5] 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.[6] A successful business selling this dish prompted the establishment of a restaurant, Palm Beach Seafood, along Upper East Coast Road.[6] The version most widespread today was created by Hooi Kok Wah in the 1960s, one of four famous Singapore chefs during the era.[7]

Variation

There are a few version of Chili Crab

  • Ketam Berlada/ Ketam Cabai / Ketam Chili - literally means Chili Crab in Malay
  • Malaysian Chili Crab
  • Singaporean Chili Crab, pionered by Cher Yam Tian

Description

Chilli crab sauce is described as "sensuous" and "sweet, yet savoury", with a "fluffy texture".[8] Mud crabs (Scylla serrata) are the most common type of crabs used for the dish, although other species of crab can also be used.[8]

It is commonly served with a side of either fried or steamed mantou buns, which are used to scoop up the sauce.[9]

Cultural impact

CNN Go listed chilli crab as one of the "world's 50 most delicious foods", at Number 35.[10] Michelin inspectors dedicate a page to chilli crab on their website.[7]

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.[11] Chilli crab was also featured on the Netflix TV series Street Food in season 1.[12]

See also

References
  1. "Singapore and Malaysia have claimed these 4 dishes. We get to the bottom of the food fights". Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  2. Arokiasamy, Christina (2017). The Malaysian Kitchen. ISBN 9780544810020.
  3. "Objek Warisan Tidak Ketara". Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  4. 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.
  5. "Singapore's Best Chilli Crab Is in a 60-Year-Old Public Housing Complex". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  6. "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.
  7. "Where To Eat Chilli Crab In Singapore". MICHELIN Guide. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  8. "Chilli Crab". YourSingapore. Archived from the original on 2013-05-14. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  9. "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.
  10. CNN Go World's 50 most delicious foods Archived 2011-10-08 at the Wayback Machine 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-11
  11. Field, Sonya (November 29, 2014). "'The Amazing Race' season 25, episode 9 recap: Committing race suicide". Hypable. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  12. 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.
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