In Ecuador, saying crab is synonymous with having a good time with family and friends.
Cangrejada is music, joy, pleasant conversation, it is a group making, combining ingredients, preparing the crabs to be used in the preparation of this typical dish, which always becomes an invitation for family and friends to gather.
Meeting to enjoy while tasting the meat of this crustacean.
As can be deduced from the name of this typical Ecuadorian dish, the main ingredient is crab.
The crab is a typical dish of the Ecuadorian coast, which is characterized by its fresh and exquisite flavor.
The use of crab meat in a variety of dishes is a popular practice in the Ecuadorian territory, particularly in the coastal region.
Greens, peanuts and seafood are essential ingredients in the preparation of typical dishes of the Ecuadorian nation, especially its coastal region.
The cangrejada, is a typical dish, which has great acceptance among Ecuadorians, it is served accompanied by greens, (green plantains), these can be fried or cooked, canguil, onion sauce, chili sauce.
Crab recipe
Plateau: Main dish.
Cooking: Ecuadorian.
Preparation time: 1 time
Bark: 8 servings
Author: Pilar Woloszyn
Who is not wishing eat one crabby a weekend? It is one of the most delicious seafood that exists! But, it is not usually a typical dish because not all people know how to prepare it. So that the same thing does not happen to you, we have decided to create this post informing you about it. Read, prepare and enjoy!
Ingredients to make the crabmeat
For make the cangrejada, only have 12 crabs (they have to be fresh) 4 onion sprigs (they have to be white and clean) 1 red onion, 10 grams of cilantro, 10 grams of chili, 5 grams of dried oregano, 5 grams of cumin (whole) 5 cloves of garlic, 10 grams of black pepper, 5 grams of salt, 250 milliliters of beer, 8 bananas (4 green and 4 ripe) and 8 liters of water.
If you have the economic capacity, You can also choose to purchase ingredients to prepare a sauce to accompany it. You will need onion, tomato, finely chopped cilantro, lemon and oil. You can also choose to add the crabmeat cooking once cooked. On the other hand, there are some people who only accompany it with chili sauce.
Preparation of the cangrejada step by step – WELL EXPLAINED
For prepare the crabmeat You just have to perform the following steps:
STEP 1 – SEASONING
La seasoning It is the first step to prepare the cangrejada. To do this, we will use a pot with a capacity of about 10 liters, we will add the water, the herbs and the essences together with the vegetables. Then, we must let it boil for about 10 minutes. That will make it taste good.
STEP 2 – ADD THE BEER
After the water tastes good, you should uncover the pot to go adding the 250 milliliters of beer (1 beer) little by little. You can add 20 milliliters while you mix well.
STEP 3 – CHOPE AND ADD
You will have to chop the 8 bananas (ripe and green) into slices with everything and peel to throw them into the pot. But, you will add the greens first and leave it on fire for 15 minutes. After this time, you will add the ripe ones and the crabs. Subsequently, cook for 30 minutes.
STEP 4 – REMOVE AND SERVE
After the last 30 minutes, you will have to remove the crabs with a large tong and place them on a plate next to the green and ripe ones. Later, add the chili sauce or the onion sauce and enjoy (while they are hot) with your family. It will be a delicious dish!
Crab Nutritional Information
For every 100 grams of crab
Calories: 124 Kcal
Fat: 1,54 gr
Proteins: 19,5 g
Calcium: 30 mg
Copper: 1,18 mg
Iron: 1,3 mg
Magnesium: 63 mg
Iodine: 40mg
Potassium: 270 mg
Phosphorus 176 mg
crab properties
The meat of the crab, be it from the sea or river, is prized in the preparation of various recipes, it is part of the typical dishes of Ecuador.
This crustacean, in addition to being a food with an exotic flavor, has great nutritional value.
It has proteins, with biological value, high content of Omega 3
We must highlight how rich in some minerals the crab is.
Contains potassium, favors the proper functioning of the nervous system.
Among the minerals provided by crab meat is iron, an excellent mineral to prevent anemia.
The crab also provides calcium and phosphorus, minerals that help maintain bone and oral health.
Iodine must be included in this list of minerals present in the crab, it helps the proper functioning of the circulatory system.
Vitamin B12 and vitamin E are also present in crab meat, vitamins that are involved in the production of blood cells.
Crab is a natural antioxidant.
Promotes hydration.
The crab: ingredient in typical Ecuadorian dishes
The crab It is considered an exquisite ingredient in gastronomy. It is a very precious crustacean, in all its varieties. There are sea crabs and river crabs, both species are used to prepare various dishes in Ecuadorian cuisine.
Crab is an ingredient that is included in the preparation of typical Ecuadorian dishes.
The native peoples made use of crab to incorporate it into their diet, since then recipes have been inherited, which are currently part of the traditional food of Ecuador and particularly of the Ecuadorian coast.
The crab is a crustacean that is used in various recipes of Ecuadorian cuisine, among which are:
- Crab soup.
- Ceviche.
- Seafood rice.
Fruits of the sea that are used in the cangrejada
In the elaboration of the Ecuadorian cangrejada, the following are used, among other species, seafood:
- Pangoras: Native species of Ecuador, essential ingredient of the crab.
- Blue crab: typical of the mangroves on the Ecuadorian coast, it has meat that is considered a delicacy, which makes it a very appreciated crab in Ecuadorian cuisine. Among shellfish collectors it is preferred.
- Red crab: species from the coasts of the Pacific Ocean. Used in Ecuadorian cuisine, its pincers have a meat with a very pleasant flavor.
Canguil: companion of the cangrejada
The kanguil is one of the species of corn, characterized by being a grain of small size, yellow in color and hard in texture. It is the special corn for making popcorn, also called popcorn in some countries.
In Ecuador, popcorn is called with the same name as corn, that is, canguil.
The Ecuadorian cangrejada is usually accompanied with fried greens, cooked sweet plantains, chili sauce, onion sauce and canguil.
Curiosity when preparing crabmeat
When preparing cangrejada, there are those who prefer to place the live crabs in boiling water, arguing that this practice is the oldest, allows obtaining a softer meat and is a guarantee that a dish with a better flavor will be obtained.
On the other hand, there are those who add the already dead crabs to the boiling water.
This last group of chefs and cooks argue sensitivity to the animal, which suffers a lot when it reaches boiling water alive.
The practice of killing crabs is also an aggressive act, which is why, although in smaller numbers, there is a third group that chooses to put aside the typical crab preparation and avoid preparing this dish.
It is notorious that, at least in Ecuador, this group is very, very small, since the preparation of cangrejada continues to be a typical activity, which is very popular.
