Name: Ginataang Alimasag (Crabs in Coconut Milk)
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 25 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: Whole Dungeness crabs - 2; Garlic oil - ½ cup; Sliced garlic - ½ cup; Yellow onion, sliced - 1; Thinly sliced ginger rounds, with skin on - 1 cup; Bias-sliced scallions, whites only - ½ cup; Kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste - ½ cup; Fish sauce - 1 tablespoon; Sauteed shrimp paste (such as Kamayan) - 1 (8.75 ounce) jar; Thai chiles, sliced into thin rings - 5; Coconut milk - 1 ½ quarts; Water, or more as needed - ½ quart; Fresh spinach - 1 bunch; Bias-sliced scallions, greens only - ½ cup

Ingredients for - Ginataang Alimasag (Crabs in Coconut Milk)

1. Whole Dungeness crabs 2

2. Garlic oil ½ cup

3. Sliced garlic ½ cup

4. Yellow onion, sliced 1

5. Thinly sliced ginger rounds, with skin on 1 cup

6. Bias-sliced scallions, whites only ½ cup

7. Kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste ½ cup

8. Fish sauce 1 tablespoon

9. Sauteed shrimp paste (such as Kamayan) 1 (8.75 ounce) jar

10. Thai chiles, sliced into thin rings 5

11. Coconut milk 1 ½ quarts

12. Water, or more as needed ½ quart

13. Fresh spinach 1 bunch

14. Bias-sliced scallions, greens only ½ cup

How to cook deliciously - Ginataang Alimasag (Crabs in Coconut Milk)

1 . Stage

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Drop crabs in and cook until shells turn bright red, 8 to 10 minutes. Plunge crabs into ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain and set aside.

2 . Stage

Heat a large wok over medium-high heat and add garlic oil. Stir in garlic and cook until lightly toasted and golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add onion and ginger and saute until onion is translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Add scallion whites. Season with a few pinches of salt and pepper.

3 . Stage

Add fish sauce and let infuse for 1 minute. Stir in shrimp paste and toast for about 3 minutes. Add Thai chiles; saute for 1 minute more. Pour in coconut milk and water. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook until sauce is thickened, about 10 minutes, adding more water if too dry.

4 . Stage

Meanwhile, break open the crab. Add to the sauce along with any accumulated juices. Simmer until flavors meld, 8 to 10 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper. Toss in spinach and let wilt. Garnish with scallion greens.