I had so many ideas for the crabs but eventually, I simply steamed them for a quick and delicious (although bit messy) dinner.
A traditional and simple Vietnamese dipping use for steamed crab is Muối Tiêu Chanh. It’s just salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lime.
I also like to add a bit of MSG-or-the-horrible-scientific-word-Monosodium-Glutamate-when-it-should-be-simply-called-seasoning-salt-because-the-taboo-behind-MSG-is-stupid for a more savory and well-rounded flavor.
Note: Crab is naturally salty, so you don’t want to use a lot of salt for the dipping sauce. Also, get the good salt! Coarse sea salt is the best. Table salt like Morton should never be used in a dipping sauce or anywhere in the kitchen.
Recipe below. Enjoy!
Vietnamese Seafood Lime, Salt & Pepper Dipping Sauce (Muoi Tieu Chanh)
- Total Time: 2 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
Description
A traditional and simple Vietnamese dipping sauce for steamed seafood.
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 teaspoons lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon MSG (pinch; optional)
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl.
- Serve for Customization: For a more elegant presentation, place salt and pepper in a sauce bowl along with fresh lime/lemon wedges so that the diner can add as much as they prefer.
Notes
You substitute lime juice with lemon juice
You substitute ground black pepper with ground white pepper for a stronger flavor
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
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