Chilli crab (; Malay: ''ketam cabai'', ''ketam cili'') is a Southeast Asian

seafood Seafood is any form of Marine life, sea life regarded as food by humans, prominently including Fish as food, fish and shellfish. Shellfish include various species of Mollusca, molluscs (e.g., bivalve molluscs such as clams, oysters, and mussel ...

dish that is widely associated with the cuisines of both Malaysia and Singapore. The widely known version of chili crab today could be traced back to the 1950s in Malaysia and Singapore. Mud crabs are commonly used and are stir-fried in a semi-thick, sweet, and savoury

tomato The tomato (, ), ''Solanum lycopersicum'', is a plant whose fruit is an edible Berry (botany), berry that is eaten as a vegetable. The tomato is a member of the nightshade family that includes tobacco, potato, and chili peppers. It originate ...

-and- chilli-based sauce.

Origins

The Portuguese introduced chili pepper to

Malacca Malacca (), officially the Historic State of Malacca (), is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state in Malaysia located in the Peninsular Malaysia#Other features, southern region of the Malay Peninsula, facing the Strait of Malacca ...

in the 16th century. Before chili peppers, peppercorn was used by the Malays to add heat and spice to their meals. The earlier version of the dish known as ketam balado, is a drier version cooked in balado, a type of hot and spicy mixture originating from Minang cuisine, of

West Sumatra West Sumatra () is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia. It is on the west coast of the island of Sumatra and includes the Mentawai Islands off that coast. West Sumatra borders the Indian Ocean to the west, as well as the provinces of ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

. Berlada is a spice mixture in Malaysian cuisine that is eaten with all kinds of vegetables and protein.

20th century

The origins of the most commonly known version of chili crab today could be traced back to the 1950s in Singapore and Malaysia. Cher Yam Tian and her husband Lim Choo Ngee began selling stir-fried crabs mixed with bottled chilli and tomato sauce from a pushcart since 1956. This was an improvised recipe; the original one did not involve bottled chilli sauce. A successful business selling this dish prompted the establishment of a restaurant, Palm Beach Seafood, along Upper East Coast Road. The version most widespread today was created by Hooi Kok Wai in the 1960s, one of four famous Singapore chefs during the era. Weng Fung Seafood Restaurant in the island of Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia was first to offer a chili crab dish in Malaysia since 1958. 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, with the dish still being served today in the establishment.

Description

Chilli crab sauce is described as "sensuous" and "sweet, yet savoury", with a "fluffy texture". Mud crabs ('' Scylla serrata'') are the most common type of crabs used for the dish, although other species of crab can also be used. It is commonly served with a side of either fried or steamed mantou buns, which are used to scoop up the sauce.

Cultural impact

'' CNN Go'' listed chilli crab as one of the "world's 50 most delicious foods", at Number 35. The

Michelin Guide The ''Michelin Guides'' ( ; ) are a series of guide books that have been published by the French tyre company Michelin since 1900. The ''Guide'' awards up to three Michelin star (classification), stars for excellence to a select few restaurants ...

dedicates a page to chilli crab on their website. '' 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. Chilli crab was also featured on the Netflix TV series ''

Street Food Street food is food sold by a Hawker (trade), hawker or vendor on a street or at another public place, such as a market, fair, or park. It is often sold from a portable food booth, food cart, or food truck and is meant for immediate consumption ...

'' in season 1. Ketam berlada has been recognized as Malaysia's Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009.

Notes

References

External links

Did Chilli Crab Come From Singapore.. Or Malaysia? , On The Red Dot: Food Fight - Part 1/4
{{Singaporean cuisine, state=collapsed Singaporean cuisine Malaysian cuisine Crab dishes National dishes