Ginataang Alimasag sa Pakbet, Crabs in Coconut Milk

Ludwig has created a unique and intriguing recipe by combining two distinct Filipino dishes, Pakbet Tagalog and Ginataang Alimasag (coconut-stewed crabs). While Pakbet is a traditional vegetable dish from the Ilocos region, featuring eggplants, bitter melon (Ampalaya), and summer squash, Ginataang Alimasag consists of coconut-stewed crabs. Ludwig has merged these two recipes by incorporating coconut milk, snow crabs (alimasag), and spices with the vegetables. The resulting dish, Ginataang Alimasag sa Pakbet Vegetable Mix, was a remarkable success!

Ingredients: 4-6 servings

2 lbs. of fresh alimasag(blue crabs)
2 pouches of coconut milk
1 1/2 lbs. ready-to-cook Pakbet vegetable mix
1 tsp of salt
1 tsp ground black peppers
2 cloves of garlic chopped & diced
1 pc red onion, chopped & diced
2 sachets of Magic Sarap seasoning

Cooking Procedure:

1. Wash and clean alimasag(blue crabs) pieces. Set aside.
2. On a large cooking pan, combine and immerge all the ingredients including crabs into the coconut milk. Start the stove heat at medium to high, and bring coconut mixture into a boil.
3. Let it simmer for 15 minutes, while occasionally stirring until the coconut milk thickens. Add the pakbet vegetable mix, stir to thoroughly combine ingredients, and leave it to simmer for another 10 minutes, as you continue to stir occasionally.
4. When all ingredients are cooked(crabs completely orange in color), and coconut milk is almost oily-dry and thickened, remove Ginataang Alimasag(coconut-stewed crabs) sa Pakbet vegetable mix from the heat. Serve it hot with steamed rice.

Note: If interested, also check out Janis’s Pakbet Ilocano recipe at https://filipinoeggrolls.com/2021/03/19/pinakbet-ilocano/.