Spicy Trinidadian Crab and Dumplings

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-03 · Updated 2026-07-03

Tender blue crabs cooked in a fiery tomato and herb broth served with pillowy boiled dumplings, a flavorful seafood classic from Trinidad. This Caribbean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs blue crabs, all-purpose flour, water for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, 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

• 2 lbs, cleaned and halved blue crabs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup, warm water
• 2 tsp, divided salt
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 large, chopped onion
• 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 1 small, chopped scotch bonnet pepper
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp, chopped fresh thyme
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup water (for cooking crabs)
• 2 tbsp, chopped fresh cilantro

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

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a bowl, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, and 1 cup warm water to form a soft dough. Knead for 5 minutes until smooth, cover, and let rest while preparing crab.
2. Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 large chopped onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 1 small chopped scotch bonnet pepper, sautéing for 4 minutes until aromatic.
3. Step 3: Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme, and 1 tsp black pepper, cooking for 2 minutes to develop flavor.
4. Step 4: Add 2 lbs cleaned and halved blue crabs and 1 cup water to the pot. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crabs turn bright orange and sauce thickens.
5. Step 5: Meanwhile, pinch off small pieces of dough and roll into 1-inch balls. Boil in salted water (use remaining 1 tsp salt) for 10 minutes until dumplings float and are cooked through. Drain.
6. Step 6: Garnish crab stew with 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro and serve hot with boiled dumplings on the side.