Food Pandora: Mr. Sebastian: Black Pepper Crab

Hi All,

Say "Hi" to Mr. Sebastian. The Little Mermaid is my favorite Disney movie, I love Ariel the Mermaid Princess, but I also love eating her little friend, Mr. Sebastian.

This is one of my most favorite dish that's easy to make and taste like restaurant food. The first time my mom and I made this, we were very surprised how easy it is to make! We were at 99 Ranch Supermarket and the dungeness crabs were on sale!! Only 4.99/lb! So we decided to buy cook this tonight.

Valentine's day is near, and you will definitely impress your other half with this dish. No guy doesn't like crabs. If he's not a crab lover, break up immediately! j/k! You can also just steam it and it still tastes wonderful.

This blog may NOT be suitable for children, since I will show you how to prepare a LIVE crab.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Serving Size: 2-3 people
Price: $10.25 (Compared to restaurant price?!!)

Ingredients:
- 1.5 to 2.5 lbs of LIVE dungeness crab (We got 1.81 lb crab, buy at least 1.5 lb crab) : $9.00
- 3 stalks of green onion (75 cents)
- 1 whole garlic (25 cents)
- 2 inch of ginger (25 cents)
- 8 red hot chili (from garden) - You can add more if you like it more spicy
- 3 tablespoons of Lee Kum Kee Oyster Flavored Sauce
- 1 teaspoon of soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons of black pepper

Directions of Cooking:

1. Start the steamer so that it will be ready when you are ready to put the crab in.
2. I think killing the crab first is more humane than steaming the crab alive. At least it is instant death. Take a big knife and flip the crab upside down so that it will not fight you. Drive the knife down in the middle of the crab (usually the middle is at the point where the triangle shape belly is)

3. Take the triangle shape cover off the belly.

4. Don't forget to wash the crab.

5. Separate the head of the crab from the rest of the body. I like the membrane from the head so I carve the membrane out from the head.

6. Put the crab in the steamer and set the heat of the stove on HIGH. You can leave the crab in the steamer for 15 minutes.

7. While the crab is cooking in the steamer, you can prepare the black pepper sauce.
8. Cut the green onions, whole garlic, ginger and chili into fine small pieces. The ratio of the ginger, garlic and green onion should be 1:1:1 once it is cut. You can add more chili if if you like it spicy.

9. Add a little olive oil (we always cook with olive oil) into a wok/pan. We like to use a wok which has a cover. Saute the onions, garlic, chili and ginger for a little bit. Then add the oyster sauce, black pepper and soy sauce. ALWAYS taste as you are adding the sauces.

10. After the sauce is done, turn off the stove for the wok and check on the crab. The crab should be about 90% cooked, which is ok since we are going to cook it again in the wok later.
11. The crab should be orange/red color. Take the crab out of the steamer and there should be the crab juice which we will mix in later.

12. Pull apart all the legs from the body. Cut the crab body into 4 pieces and halfway crack all the legs and leg joints so the sauce can seep into the crab meat later.