Refreshing Kkotgetang (Spicy Blue Crab Stew) Packed with Crab and Shrimp
A savory, refreshing stew boiled with blue crab and shrimp in a broth seasoned with doenjang.
Translated from Korean by AI and not yet checked by a native speaker. Amounts and numbers are taken directly from the original recipe. Read the Korean original →
Simmered with crab shells and shrimp heads for a deep broth, then seasoned with doenjang for a clean, savory base. Korean chili flakes and Cheongyang chili peppers add a spicy kick, making it great for a meal, with drinks, or as a hangover cure.
- Servings
- 2 servings
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Spiciness
- Spicy
Ingredients
Ingredients
- Blue crab1 whole (large)
- Shrimp5
- Korean radish (mu)1/4
- Squash1/4
- Tofu1/4 block
- Water dropwort (minari)1 handful
- Red chili pepper1
- Cheongyang chili pepper (hot green chili)1
- Large green onion (daepa)1 stalk
Seasoning
- Doenjang (Korean soybean paste)1 tbsp
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)2 tbsp
- Minced garlic1 tbsp
- Ginger powder0.5 tsp
- Salt0.5 tsp
- Ground black peppera little
Broth
- Water10 cups (paper cups)
- Blue crab shells
- Shrimp heads
- Dried anchovies1 handful
- Dried kelp (dasima)6-7
- Onion1/2
- Steep the dried kelp (dasima) in cold water for an hour.
- Mushrooms or crown daisy are also great.
- Instead of dried anchovies, dried glass shrimp, large-eyed herring (dipori), or dried pollack heads are also good.
Steps
Clean and prep the blue crab and shrimp.
Live blue crabs were over ten thousand won for two.
They were so expensive that I bought frozen ones, but I think I picked ones packed with meat.
How to clean blue crab and shrimp is here: http://blog.naver.com/ppunwife/140043367432
The vegetables are Korean radish, tofu, squash, water dropwort, chili peppers, and large green onion.
Mushrooms or crown daisy are also great.
These are the ingredients to make the broth.
It is great to make the broth with the top shell and carapace from cleaning the blue crab, along with the shrimp heads.
Instead of dried anchovies, dried glass shrimp, large-eyed herring (dipori), or dried pollack heads are also good.
I did not add radish or garlic here because they will go directly into the stew.
Though there is no photo, let the seasoning paste soak and hydrate ahead of time.
First, steep the dried kelp (dasima) in cold water for an hour.
Add all of the broth ingredients above to the kelp-soaked water and bring to a boil over high heat.
Once the water begins to boil, remove the dried kelp...
Boil over low heat for at least 10 minutes.
Skim off the foam from time to time.
Strain through a cheesecloth or sieve to prepare the broth.
The broth smells deeply savory and delicious. If you add napa cabbage or dried radish greens (siraegi) to this broth and make doenjang soup, it is truly delicious.
Today I seasoned the broth base with doenjang (Korean soybean paste) for a rich, refreshing flavor.
You can use gochujang instead to suit your taste.
Dissolve a tablespoon of doenjang into the boiling broth...
Add the Korean radish and bring it to a brief boil.
Add the blue crab and shrimp, and once it starts boiling again...
Add the squash and all of the seasonings except the doenjang, then simmer.
At the end, add the water dropwort, large green onion, and chili peppers...
Season with salt if needed, let the soup come together as it boils, and remove from the heat.
Ppunwife's tips
- It is great to make the broth with the top shell and carapace from cleaning the blue crab, along with the shrimp heads.
- Let the seasoning paste soak and hydrate ahead of time.
- When boiling the broth, skim off the foam from time to time and strain it through cheesecloth or a sieve to prepare the liquid.
FAQ
Can I use another paste instead of doenjang to season the broth?
Depending on your preference, you can use gochujang instead of doenjang to cook it.
Are there substitutes for the dried anchovies in the broth?
Instead of dried anchovies, you can use dried glass shrimp, dipori (large-eyed herring), or dried pollack heads to make the broth.
What additional vegetables would be good to add besides the basics?
Depending on your preference, adding mushrooms or crown daisy is also great.
