Spicy Marinated Blue Crab Recipe Using 3 Blue Crabs: How to Make the Seasoning Penetrate Deep into the Flesh with a Primary Soy Sauce Marinade

A recipe for spicy marinated blue crab that allows you to achieve professional-level taste at home using blue crabs, which can be found at affordable prices during the autumn season, has been revealed. According to a video from the YouTube channel 'Exciting Chef Kim Sun-young', to ensure the seasoning does not slide off and instead penetrates deep into the flesh of the blue crab, one must go through a primary soy sauce marinade and a secondary chili powder soaking process.

The Core of Blue Crab Preparation, Including Removing the Sandbag and Gills

The most important step before making spicy marinated blue crab is the preparation process to perfectly remove foreign substances from the blue crab. The video shows the process of scrubbing the eyes, legs, and back of the blue crab with a kitchen brush and then rinsing it under running water. A particular point of caution is that the sandbag located right under the mouth of the blue crab must be removed. Since the sandbag sometimes comes out with the top shell when it is removed, you must check and remove it.

Additionally, the gills and foreign substances around the mouth, which are inedible parts, are thoroughly scrubbed with a brush, and unnecessary parts are cut off with scissors. The prepared blue crabs are split in half, and the innards contained in the top shell are scraped out and added to the seasoning. These innards are an important ingredient that enhances the flavor of the spicy marinated blue crab. If you plan to cook blue crab stew together, you can set aside the innards from the top shell to use in the stew.

Primary Soy Sauce Marinade for Umami to Seep into the Flesh

A problem many people face when making spicy marinated blue crab at home is that the seasoning does not stick to the meat and slides off, or while the outside is spicy, the inner flesh is bland. To solve this, the video suggests a method of dividing the seasoning process into two stages. First, for the primary seasoning, create a marinade by mixing 5 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of raw sugar, 2 tablespoons of minced garlic, and a little bit of minced ginger.

The prepared blue crabs must first be tossed in this primary seasoning and then left to marinate in the refrigerator for about 1 hour. The key is to marinate with the soy sauce-based seasoning first rather than mixing the chili powder from the beginning. Through this process, the soy sauce seasoning can penetrate deep into the inside of the blue crab flesh, completing the sweet and salty umami flavor.

Secondary Chili Powder Soaking to Make the Seasoning Stick Perfectly

Once the 1-hour marinating process is finished, mix the separately prepared secondary seasoning ingredients to create the viscosity of the sauce. The secondary seasoning consists of 5 tablespoons of chili powder, 4 tablespoons of minced green onion, 1/4 of a minced onion, 1 tablespoon of oligosaccharide (corn syrup), 1 teaspoon of citron tea, and 2 teaspoons of sesame seeds. At this time, adding 1 teaspoon of citron tea is effective in catching the unique fishy smell of the blue crab. However, since adding too much citron tea can mask the natural aroma of the blue crab, it is important to add an appropriate amount.

The decisive secret to making premium spicy marinated blue crab here is to utilize the pickling liquid that comes out from the blue crabs after the primary marinating. After mixing the chili powder and secondary seasoning ingredients in a separately prepared bowl, add the pickling liquid used during the primary marinating and leave it as is for about 10 to 20 minutes to soak the chili powder. In the video, you can see that the chili powder has sufficiently soaked after about 20 minutes have passed. The seasoned sauce prepared this way gains viscosity and adheres tightly to the surface of the blue crab without any gaps. Finally, toss the soaked seasoning with the marinated blue crabs and sprinkle sesame seeds to complete the spicy marinated blue crab that sticks perfectly to the meat without sliding off. The finished crab can be eaten immediately, but it is even more delicious if you put it in the refrigerator for a bit and eat it cold.