Ukaeb (Palauan Crab in Coconut Milk, Served in the Shell)
In short: Crab meat simmered in a thick, gently sweet coconut milk sauce and spooned back into crab shells, a Palauan dish for special occasions. It takes about 35 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 35 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 245 kcal
Ukaeb is crab meat simmered in coconut milk and spooned back into crab shells, a Palauan dish served on special occasions. The coconut milk reduces into a thick, lightly sweet sauce that clings to the crab. Palauan cooks use mangrove or land crab, and this version works with cooked crab meat from any good source. Serve it in clean shells, small bowls or halved coconut shells.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat and cook the onion for 4 minutes, until soft but not browned.
- Pour in the coconut milk and add the salt and pepper. Simmer gently for 10 minutes, until the sauce has reduced by about a third and coats a spoon.
- Fold in the crab meat and warm it for 3 to 4 minutes. The crab is already cooked, so do not boil it hard.
- Spoon the crab into the shells or ramekins, scatter the spring onions on top and serve hot with steamed rice or boiled taro.
Tips
- Reduce the coconut milk before adding the crab, so the crab does not release extra water and thin the sauce. Cook it only until warm so the meat stays tender.
- Use fresh or pasteurized lump crab meat and drain it well. If you have whole crabs, scrub and empty the shells for serving.
Questions and answers
What is ukaeb?
Ukaeb is a Palauan dish of crab meat simmered in coconut milk and served in crab shells. It is a favorite for special occasions.
What kind of crab is used?
In Palau, mangrove or land crab is typical. Outside the islands, any good cooked crab meat, such as blue, Dungeness or lump crab, works well.
Is ukaeb a good choice for allergy sufferers?
No. It contains shellfish, a major allergen, so it should not be served to anyone with a shellfish allergy.
How long does it take to make Ukaeb (Palauan Crab in Coconut Milk, Served in the Shell)?
About 35 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Ukaeb (Palauan Crab in Coconut Milk, Served in the Shell)?
About 245 kcal per serving, with 19 g of protein, 4 g of carbohydrates and 17 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 245 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 19 g |
| Carbohydrates | 4 g |
| Fat | 17 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 600 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
