Shanghai-Style Steamed Crab with Ginger and Shaoxing Wine

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-01 · Updated 2026-06-01

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Fresh crab steamed with fragrant ginger slices and aromatic Shaoxing wine, highlighting the delicate sweetness of Shanghai’s coastal seafood. This Chinese-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs live hairy crab, ginger, Shaoxing wine for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 2 Chinese cuisine 320 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 (about 1.5 lbs) live hairy crab
3 thin slices ginger
2 tbsp Shaoxing wine
2, cut into 2-inch lengths scallions
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups for steaming water

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Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

Amazon Basics Color-Coded Dishwasher Safe Kitchen Knife Set, 12-Piece with Ergonomic Handles, Non-stick Sharp Blades, 6 Knives with 6 Blade Guards, Multicolor, 13.88 x 4.13 x 1.38 inch
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Instructions

Step 1: Clean 1 live hairy crab thoroughly under cold running water and tie its claws with kitchen twine to prevent movement.
Step 2: Place the crab shell-side down on a heatproof plate suitable for steaming. Scatter 3 thin slices ginger and 2 scallions cut into 2-inch lengths around the crab.
Step 3: Drizzle 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine and sprinkle 1/2 tsp salt evenly over the crab.
Step 4: Set up a steamer with 2 cups boiling water. Place the plate with crab inside the steamer, cover, and steam over high heat for 15 minutes until crab meat turns opaque and fragrant.
Step 5: Carefully remove the plate, discard ginger and scallions, and serve crab hot with dipping sauce of your choice.