Chinese Recipes

Spicy Stir-Fried Crab

Name: Spicy Stir-Fried Crab
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 4 Crab; 1 Onion; 100 g Shiitake Mushrooms; 2 Green Bell Pepper; 3 Red Chili Peppers; 1 tbsp Pixian Doubanjiang; 1 tbsp, minced Ginger; 4 cloves, minced Garlic; 2 tbsp, chopped Scallions; 2 tbsp, chopped Cilantro; for coating All-Purpose Flour; as needed Vegetable Oil

A classic Chinese seafood dish featuring crispy fried crab stir-fried with Pixian Doubanjiang, peppers, onions, and mushrooms. Rich, savory, and moderately spicy, this restaurant-style crab dish is packed with bold flavor.

Total: 30 Minutes

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Quick Recipe Summary

Cuisine: Chinese
Category: Chinese Recipes
Method: Stir-fry
Total Time: 30 Minutes
Difficulty: Intermediate
Main Ingredient: Crab

Introduction

This Spicy Stir-Fried Crab recipe is written for Chinese home cooking, with attention to timing, texture, and the small cues that make the method easier to follow. Read through the ingredient notes and cooking tips before you start so the steps feel familiar once the pan, steamer, or pot is hot.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Ready in about 30 minutes, so it can fit into a busy cooking day.
Breaks the method into manageable steps instead of assuming you already know the technique.
Helpful for practicing timing, heat control, and the order of adding ingredients.
Gives the dish a clear moderately spicy flavor profile without making the method feel complicated.
Useful as a reference recipe because the steps explain both what to do and what to watch for.

Ingredients

4 Crab
1 Onion
100 g Shiitake Mushrooms
2 Green Bell Pepper
3 Red Chili Peppers
1 tbsp Pixian Doubanjiang
1 tbsp, minced Ginger
4 cloves, minced Garlic
2 tbsp, chopped Scallions
2 tbsp, chopped Cilantro
for coating All-Purpose Flour
as needed Vegetable Oil

Ingredient Notes

These notes explain the role of the main ingredients so the recipe is easier to adjust without losing its Chinese home-cooking character.

Crab

This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.

Onion

This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.

Shiitake Mushrooms

This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.

reen Bell Pepper

Chilies or peppers add aroma, color, and heat; adjust the amount to fit your table.

Red Chili Peppers

Chilies or peppers add aroma, color, and heat; adjust the amount to fit your table.

Pixian Doubanjiang

This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1
Clean the crabs thoroughly and remove the stomach section.
Step 2
Remove the gills, intestines, and other inedible parts. Rinse well.
Step 3
Cut each crab into halves or serving-size pieces.
Step 4
Clean the mushrooms and onion.
Step 5
Cut the onion into chunks and slice the mushrooms.
Step 6
Prepare the remaining vegetables and aromatics.
Step 7
Lightly coat the cut sides of the crab pieces with flour.
Step 8
Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat.
Step 9
Fry the crab pieces until lightly golden and set aside.
Step 10
Quickly stir-fry the green bell peppers and red chili peppers, then remove and set aside.
Step 11
Add Pixian Doubanjiang to the wok and stir-fry until the oil turns red and fragrant.
Step 12
Add the mushrooms and onion and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 13
Return the fried crab to the wok and toss everything together.
Step 14
Add a small amount of water and simmer briefly to allow the flavors to combine.
Step 15
Return the peppers to the wok and continue cooking until the crab is fully coated in the sauce.
Step 16
Garnish with scallions and cilantro before serving.
Step 17
Serve hot and enjoy.
Step 18
Enjoy this flavorful Sichuan-style spicy crab dish.

Cooking Tips

Cleaning the crab thoroughly and removing the gills and other inedible parts improves both flavor and texture. Lightly coating the cut surfaces with flour helps seal in the crab juices during frying. Pixian Doubanjiang is the key ingredient that gives this dish its signature Sichuan flavor.

Serving Suggestions

Serve it with steamed rice when you want a simple Chinese home-cooked meal.
Add a light soup or cold vegetable side if the stir-fry is salty, spicy, or saucy.
Keep rice or noodles ready before cooking because stir-fries are best served immediately.

Recipe Card

Ingredients

4 Crab
1 Onion
100 g Shiitake Mushrooms
2 Green Bell Pepper
3 Red Chili Peppers
1 tbsp Pixian Doubanjiang
1 tbsp, minced Ginger
4 cloves, minced Garlic
2 tbsp, chopped Scallions
2 tbsp, chopped Cilantro
for coating All-Purpose Flour
as needed Vegetable Oil

Method

Clean the crabs thoroughly and remove the stomach section.
Remove the gills, intestines, and other inedible parts. Rinse well.
Cut each crab into halves or serving-size pieces.
Clean the mushrooms and onion.
Cut the onion into chunks and slice the mushrooms.
Prepare the remaining vegetables and aromatics.
Lightly coat the cut sides of the crab pieces with flour.
Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat.
Fry the crab pieces until lightly golden and set aside.
Quickly stir-fry the green bell peppers and red chili peppers, then remove and set aside.
Add Pixian Doubanjiang to the wok and stir-fry until the oil turns red and fragrant.
Add the mushrooms and onion and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes.
Return the fried crab to the wok and toss everything together.
Add a small amount of water and simmer briefly to allow the flavors to combine.
Return the peppers to the wok and continue cooking until the crab is fully coated in the sauce.
Garnish with scallions and cilantro before serving.
Serve hot and enjoy.
Enjoy this flavorful Sichuan-style spicy crab dish.