Pan-Fried Crab with Black Bean and Chili Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-10 · Updated 2026-04-10

Delicate crab meat seared in a bold black bean and chili glaze with garlic and ginger notes. This Asian recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs Fresh crab meat, picked over, Fermented black beans, rinsed, Dried red chilies, stemmed and chopped for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 8 oz Fresh crab meat, picked over
• 2 tbsp Fermented black beans, rinsed
• 1 tsp Dried red chilies, stemmed and chopped
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Ginger, minced
• 2 tbsp Soy sauce
• 1 tbsp Rice wine
• 1/2 tsp Sugar
• 1 tbsp Cornstarch
• 2 tbsp Water
• 2 tbsp Vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp Green onions, sliced

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat 8 oz crab meat dry, then toss with 1 tbsp cornstarch until lightly coated.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the coated crab and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until golden and just cooked through; remove and set aside.
3. Step 3: In the same skillet, add 1 tsp chopped dried red chilies and cook for 20 seconds until fragrant, then add 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 tsp minced ginger, stir-frying for 1 minute until aromatic.
4. Step 4: Add 2 tbsp rinsed fermented black beans, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp rice wine, and 1/2 tsp sugar, stirring to combine.
5. Step 5: Add 2 tbsp water and bring to a simmer, then return the crab to the skillet, tossing to coat and cooking for 2 minutes until the sauce thickens.
6. Step 6: Stir in 1 tbsp sliced green onions and cook for 30 seconds.