Stone crab - an irresistible delicacy from Quynh Beach.

(Baonghean.vn) - Stone crab (locally known as "cap cap" or "con cung") has long been a specialty dish of the coastal region of Quynh province.It is sought after and enjoyed by tourists when they have the opportunity to visit this place.

Although also a type of sea crab, rock crabs don't live entirely underwater but in caves and crevices in rocks along the coast. In Quynh Luu district and Hoang Mai town, rock crabs are abundant in the rocky beaches of Quynh Lap, Quynh Phuong, and Quynh Lien...

Rock crabs have a dark purple shell and limbs, with a slightly pale yellow underside. These crabs are very strong and fast, so to catch them, people often use flashlights at night or early in the morning, or they may use nets spread along the rocky shores.

Sea crabs are priced between 140,000 and 160,000 VND per kilogram. Photo: Thanh Thuy

Mr. Nguyen Van Tien, a fisherman who hunts rock crabs at Quynh Lap beach (Hoang Mai town), said: "This species of crab usually feeds at night and is very cunning. Catching rock crabs depends on the low tide. This season, the tide is low in the late afternoon, while in the summer it is low in the early morning. Besides catching them manually by hand, you can use bait such as fish or shrimp to lure the crabs out of their burrows. If you're lucky, you can catch 5-7 kg of rock crabs each day."

Rock crabs are typically about the size of a fist, weighing an average of 100-200g per crab. Female crabs have firmer meat than male crabs. Rock crab meat is very flavorful, and their roe is rich and creamy, especially their two large, meaty claws encased in very hard shells. Unlike sea crabs and swimming crabs, rock crabs carry a lot of roe, and almost 100% of female crabs contain roe.

Rock crabs typically live in rocky crevices along the coast.Photo: Thanh Thuy

In the past, rock crabs were abundant; to improve their meals, people only needed to spend a few hours catching a whole bagful. As the coastal tourism industry developed, rock crabs became a specialty dish, and where there is demand, there is supply. Therefore, professional crab-hunting teams also emerged.

According to the locals, if you steam live crabs, their legs will fall off when they come into contact with hot water. Therefore, before steaming, you should rinse them with ice water or use a sharp toothpick to pierce their hearts before placing them in the pot.

Cleaned stone crabs are steamed whole with beer, a quick way to prepare them while preserving their delicious flavor. Besides steaming with beer, the people of Quynh also create many other equally appealing dishes that are popular with diners, such as stir-fried stone crab with salt, stir-fried stone crab with tamarind, steamed stone crab with lemongrass, and stone crab noodle soup.

Steamed stone crab with lemongrass is a dish favored by many tourists.Photo: Thanh Thuy

Currently, the price of rock crab ranges from 140,000 to 160,000 VND/kg. Compared to sea crabs and other types of crabs, rock crab meat is firmer and more flavorful, with a distinctive aroma, making it a popular choice for tourists. Therefore, seafood restaurants are actively seeking it out and including it on their menus.

Ms. Yen, the owner of a seafood purchasing facility in Quynh Phuong ward, said: Tourists visiting Quynh Phuong beach often choose to buy stone crab as a souvenir. Each day, the facility sells about 50 kg, and in the summer, the quantity doubles; some days, they run out of stock and can't supply enough to customers.

Seafood shops are bustling with customers buying sea crabs.Photo: Thanh Thuy

Although rock crabs are not as economically valuable as other seafood, they contribute to increasing the income of fishermen who specialize in catching rock crabs to supply tourists.

Hoang Mai town currently has dozens of facilities that purchase sea crabs in the beaches of Quynh Lap, Quynh Phuong, Quynh Lien, etc. After being purchased, the crabs are kept alive in aerated tanks to maintain their freshness.

Thanh Thuy