PALAU: Minced Crab with Coconut (Ukaeb) with Finadene Sauce, Rice, and Avocado

I need to start with a few disclaimers. First, the only recipes for ukaeb I could find listed additional vegetables and/or seasonings as ingredients, whereas the videos and photos from the islands showed only crab and coconut being used — but no recipes. So the optional ingredients listed might not be optional. Maybe they should be omitted. Second, ukaeb is super easy if one does not bake the mixture in the cleaned crab shells, rather uses ramekins. Acquiring crab shells requires not only hunting down live crabs, which is not super easy in my neck of the woods, but also boiling and picking the meat from the steamed crustaceans, taking this from like 3 minutes of active cooking time to an hour or so. Next time through I am for sure omitting this step. Finally, other than some TikTok videos, I saw no mention of what to serve with the ukaeb. I therefore, am going off one video that seemed authentic. It was here that I was the introduction of the finadene sauce, which I high recommend as a condiment for serving ukaeb! While the sauce originates from Guam, it is eaten in Palau.

But if you know otherwise as to any of these disclaimers, I'm always open to any and all feedback!

Minced Crab with Coconut (Ukaeb)

12 ounces cooked crab meat, fresh or canned

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream,

1 tablespoon minced chili (optional)

1 tablespoon minced yellow onion (optional)

1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil (optional)

finadene sauce, cooked white rice, and/or avocado slices for serving (optional)

1. Heat over to 350°F.

2. If using the onion and/or chili, in a small skillet, heat the oil over low heat. When it glistens, add the onion and/or chili. Sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.

3. Place the crab and ½ cup of coconut milk or cream in a small food processor. Add the sautéed onion and/or chili if using.

4. Pulse into the mixture becomes smooth.

5. Place into 4 cleaned crab shells and/or 4 single-serving size heatproof ramekins. Top each with ½ tablespoon of the coconut milk or cream.

6. Bake for 25 minutes, until heated through. Serve warm, room temperature, or chilled.

Finadene Sauce

½ cup soy sauce or tamari

½ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (~2 lemons)

1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

2-4 Thai chili peppers or green chili of your choice

1 green onion

1. Mix the liquids together in a small bowl.

2. Mince the chili and green onion and add to mixture.

3. Place in fridge for 30 minutes to 2 days.

   
   

#crab #avocado #ukaeb #finadene #pacificislands #palau

FUN FACTS:

• Palau does not have its own army. The United States is responsible for defending the country, as stated in the Compact of Free Association. Palau citizens can enlist in the US Army.

• Palau was the first country to forbid commercial shark fishing in its waters.

• The smallest capital in the world by both area and population is Ngerulmud, the capital of Palau.