Easy Thai Curry Crab Recipe

Thai curry crab stir fry or pu pad pong karee is an iconic dish of Thailand's seafood offering that is not to be missed if you're in Thailand, and it's an easy recipe to make at home!
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WRITTEN RECIPE: hot-thai-kitchen.com/curry-crab
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00:00 Introduction
01:18 How to Make Curry Crab
02:22 About crab and curry powder
03:31 Cooking Curry Crab
07:27 Pretty it up
08:34 Serving & Condiment
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About Pai:
Pailin “Pai” Chongchitnant is the author of the Hot Thai Kitchen cookbook, co-host of a Canadian TV series One World Kitchen on Gusto TV, and creator and host of the KZbin channel Pailin's Kitchen.
Pai was born and raised in southern Thailand where she spent much of her "playtime" in the kitchen. She traveled to Canada to study Nutritional Sciences at the University of British Columbia, and was later trained as a chef at Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in San Francisco.
After working in both Western and Thai professional kitchens, she decided that her passion really lies in educating and empowering others to cook at home via KZbin videos, her cookbook, and cooking classes. She currently lives in Vancouver, and goes to Thailand every year to visit her family. Visit her at hot-thai-kitchen.com

[@yoogleza]

As Thai myself, I can firmly say that, even without crab meat, that red-chilli-paste egg custard goes well with literally E-VE-RY-THING! That egg custard paired with any fried proteins, be it chicken, pork, beef, you name it!

[@TamHuynh-xj6jn]

I used to stir-fry that custard with fish balls and it was amazing

[@charliechuggerz]

really? i might try it with some minced beef

[@yoogleza]

@@charliechuggerz Please do! Personally, I would recommend sliced steak or beef patty if you go with beef, but anything should do fine. Do add some veggies in as well, as this dish is quite rich in itself.

[@RedheadGang]

As a fellow Thai, My recommendation is crispy pork.

[@charliechuggerz]

@@yoogleza thank you i can’t wait to try

[@malcolmquick3708]

I don't care what it looks like it's the taste that is important

[@14cubensis]

Agreed!!!

[@sandrastreifel6452]

Maybe, but the taste and smell don’t get KZbin views! I’m going to make this as soon as I can afford the crab!

[@malcolmquick3708]

@@sandrastreifel6452 I've got 4 crab pots and I just put them out in the mangroves and catch them fresh from the ocean

[@iBMcFly]

@@malcolmquick3708that’s a thing? Where do you live? I live in the very middle of Michigans Great Lakes, but we don’t have crab. We have every fresh water fish imaginable though.

[@chursunloh7416]

Never apologise for something like that dish. It looks amazing and I am sure it tastes wonderful.

[@itsyourboycharlie]

For those who never have this. This dish is so gooooood!! With shrimp is also good 😁😁😁

[@nicolasderhodes9164]

I have eaten this dish before in Thailand and had trouble finding a video recipe of it for a long time. Thank you so much for this!! Don't mind the looks, and please keep giving us incredible and lesser-known Thai recipes like this!! Your viewers will very much appreciate!

[@VicBattlefield]

Forget the looks, I absolutely adore this dish! But you´re also right about the price. I live in a land locked country and crab is astronomically expensive here! But after seeing your video I think I will treat myself to this to celebrate the beginning of my vacation! Thanks Pai!😋

[@peterdoe2617]

I just wrote my own comment on this: try ask your local asian grocer for frozen crab meat. Here in Pinneberg, they even order things for me, if they don't have it already.

[@VicBattlefield]

@@peterdoe2617 Thanks for the tip, Peter!

[@paulbegley1464]

Well I'm I the Bay area of California so I don't have that problem. But it's still kinda expensive, probably not as much as you. But I can also order it from the East coast and get it the next day.

[@VicBattlefield]

@@paulbegley1464 i’ll be in Thailand by the end of the year so I’m looking forward to having as much seafood as I can over there. San Francisco is a lovely city. I enjoyed my stay over there very much, but that was years ago. All the best!

[@SpinelSunSupMay]

you can try it with any meat i.e. chicken, pork any is okay with this menu

[@julielimsy]

This is my favourite Thai dish. I may be the only one in this world who thinks this doesn’t look ugly. On the contrary, it is the most beautiful dish on the dining table 😊

[@orcasrising]

For those who can't really find fresh crabs where they live, you can use shrimps, squid, or any white fish fillets instead and they'll be just as yum. For fish fillets, coat them in light batter and fry them up before throwing them in the curry gravy otherwise they will break apart while you're tossing them around in the pan

[@Wafflepuff7]

As a Thai, I never complain about its appearance. It's one of my top favorites. Super delicious!

[@c.butler2858]

She said that bowl was enough for 4 people. Lol. I thought, NOPE. I'd kill that whole bowl by myself. That recipe is a thing of beauty.

[@ryuichiro.sakuraba]

That looks delectable. ❤ Crab + curry + rice? Heavenly.

[@queenmarissa]

This dish is by far the best thai dish ever. I am obsessed I order it every time I can. I look for it on every Thai menu. Sometimes here in Aus you can find the custard paired with fried soft shell crab..I put this custard with literally everything. Chicken, beef, prawns, even scallops. I am beyond obsessed and Thai is my favourite food so that is saying something!!! Thank you Pai I have been waiting years for you to make this 😭🤣🙏🏻❤️🎉

[@trueblue7779]

With the custard, do you use evaporated milk or coconut milk? I'm so excited to make this custard for thai dishes 😋

[@kathylikestrlc]

Do you fry or cook your proteins first or cook them in the curry?

[@DianeH2038]

I'm officially drooling -- I *know* this is soooo good!

[@loganmoriarty1155]

I firmly believe that the most delicious dishes also happen to be the ugliest 😂 in an age of social media, it feels like we turn away from these less aesthetic but insanely delicious recipes. Wish there was more content like this! Can’t wait to try it out 😋

[@brandon3872]

Exactly, rendang for example is delicious yet isn't one of the prettiest dishes. :)

[@chrysanthemum8233]

Exactly! I've eaten so many absolutley delicious dishes that looked like dog food. Who cares! If it tastes good that's what matters!

[@mt1541]

Your recipes are delicious, your teaching skills are terrific, but my favorite aspect of your channel is your delightful personality! Thank you so much for the joy I experience watching your videos!

[@zanthoxylum260]

Yes, finally! Totally second your "must try" sentiment, you have to eat it when you're in Thailand! Soft shell crab pad pong garee absolutely blew my mind when I first visited Thailand, right on my first night when I was invited to a local restaurant by a friend's family. Had never before eaten anything like it. Its eggy texture and nam prik pao sweetness combined with curry powder aroma were weird at first, "tastebuds couldn't compute". Still, I couldn't stop gobbling it up with rice because it was just so darn tasty. It doesn't even feature the fresh herbs galore used in other Thai dishes; just simple ingredients apart from the crab. Yet, it's such a uniquely tasty explosion of perfectly mingled flavours and texture. By now, I see it as a great example of how Thai cuisine can jumble a multitude of ingredients together to create a dish that is impressively more than the sum of its parts. I still get swoony whenever I think back to that first time eating it. It's that good. And unfortunately, outside of Thailand I've never found a Thai restaurant that serves the proper eggy-creamy version of this. They may even have a pad pong garee on the menu, but it's usually just a stir-fry with curry powder but without eggs. (Also mind-blowing: yam thua plu, the winged bean salad with shrimp and roasted coconut! And of course, many more ;) )

[@adamtaylor3424]

I had this once at a restaurant in Rayong. And could never find it again. Still haven’t forgotten, and it makes me glad to see you make it!

[@Alan-mm1re]

I tried this but scallops once in the Bangkok’s China Town, been obssessed with this dish ever since, and I’ve been looking for this dish’s name for months. Thank youuu!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@coolnewpants]

So happy you are doing a video on this! One of my all time favorite dishes! SO YUMMY

[@jimpeterson2586]

Been waiting so long for this video! Thank You. One of my favorite dishes. I have all the ingredients. Just waiting for the details of how to put them together. One of my favorites.

[@acerrubrum5749]

Awesome, thanks. In the olden days we used to be able to get canned Dungeness crab...OMG it wasn't mush, it was fantastic. Toasted crab sandwiches, crab stuffed mushrooms, crab bennies, crab dip hot or cold, crab fried rice. I miss the days when we had family whole crab feeds, 3 lb ers and could afford it without taking out a 2nd mortgage 😮

[@jameshanky]

As a Vancouver boy living in Bkk for over 20 years this has always been my favorite dish. I order it every time I go to Suda restaurant. I love cooking but have never tried this recipe, I will for sure now. I already know it will turn out great, thx much!!!

[@davidlevine1697]

Suda ROCKS! i first ate their in 1990. have you had their Chicken in Pandan Leaf (Gat Haw Bai Toey), or the amazing Cashew Chicken, (Gai Pad Med Mamuang) which is unlike any otehr in Thailand?

[@jameshanky]

@@davidlevine1697 Yes I've had just about everything on the menu over the years, great place. You wouldn't happen to be the same David Levine from SCR on Soi 11 are you?

[@davidlevine1697]

@@jameshanky i am not from Soi 11, Soi 71 for 20 years. I have lived and worked in BKK, Patong, Kata, Karon Beach, Pattaya, Jomtien, and Chachangsao. I am now a retired chef/f&b manager and have a condo in Jomtien, but currently i in NYC taking care of family. I come to this channal to refresh myself before i prepare TH food as the TH food in NYC is negoitable at best, and making it at home is always better. i only live a 10 minute walk from Chinatown so i have access to all that i need, including hard to find herbs and veggies. One of my favorite dishes to make is Hoy Lai Pad Prik Pao, Clams In Chili Paste with Sweet TH Basil. I actuallly travel with a jar of Chili Paste when visiting freinds as i am ineveitably asked to cook TH food. ☮❤🙏

[@jerrybdlben231]

The more I watch…the more I admire!! You are one special chef and lady!!

[@andi_88859]

ตอบคุณมากฯ It’s been over ten years since I’ve had this and I am so excited you posted.

[@deemm1265]

I think this looks great. When I visited Thailand few years ago, I ordered this dish, it was amazing. Thank you for sharing this easy recipe.

[@TheSilent333]

Looks plenty delicious to me! Thanks for sharing this with us!

[@aisahazizsutton1811]

Hi Pailin!! I am so glad you decided to share this recipe. I have always loved this dish but I never knew what it is called, until today. But now that I know how to cook it, I will definitely give it a go and put in other proteins/ingredients, even make it vegetarian! Thank you so much and yes, this is my favorite dish. It never crossed my mind that it looks ugly, in fact, I am always so happy to see it when I ordered it :)

[@sysiau2010]

I made this dish with the whole crab and it's very very tasty cause the flavours from the shells enhanced it..just stir fry the crab first with the onions and garlic, then add the curry powder before adding in the egg custard... garnish with just celery/spring onions will make the dish look beautiful. This is finger licking good.

[@Pancakes0o]

This is my favorite thai dish. Glad you finally made a video!!

[@sunthorn]

My mom and I made this for new years and it was the best.

[@Mariamaria-jc3fu]

I love this dish. Hadn’t had it in years, gonna recreate it soon, thanks for the recipe 🤤😋

[@ceciliacruz7804]

I don't care about the look, I think it's yummy; because I like all the ingredients ❤

[@user-pj4ne3kp1z]

I actually love Thai food, and I think that is amazing!!! I can't wait to cook it!!! Love it❤️❤️❤️

[@jenniferwilson2637]

Wow! We made this for dinner tonight, and it was absolutely delicious. It was also very simple to make. Very little prep time! I had never tried Thai chili paste- wow, it is great! Thank you for posting the recipe, even if it isn't the most aesthetically pleasing dish... 😂

[@nekov4ego]

Maybe something is wrong with me but I don't think it looks bad at all :) Gives me some laksa vibes. I never cared about presentation all that much, so I'm glad you changed your mind.

[@stephanieyc3366]

I had been waiting some time for the recipe for this dish, thx so much👍🏻👍🏻

[@matthewshannon9]

This was one of the best foods I've eaten in Thailand! I could never find a good recipe, thanks!!!

[@schanws]

My whole family love this dish very much, and we could only have it in restaurant, and we've been wondering how to cook it, now we can try it at home with live mud crab. Thank you very much.

[@12ism]

It might look unappetising to westerners, but show this to a Southeast Asian and we'll know it will be to die for when eaten with steaming hot Jasmine rice. 😍

[@riseandroot4530]

Never been so happy to live on a loch in Scotland. Crab I can get. Hurrah! Thank you for the recipe.

[@JP-gy4kx]

One of my favorite Thai dishes. Thanks for sharing ❤

[@KPuppychow]

This is my favorite Thai dish along with Rad Na. Whenever I go to Thailand to see family, this is always on the agenda. Everyone in my family knows.

[@bigal6402]

We can’t wait to make this dish, looks so delicious! Thank you!

[@yokepengho2922]

The first time my family ate fried curry crab was in BKK. Sombong seafood @ Rachada. We ordered the deshelled crab one as we didnt enjoy eating w shell on. So easy to eat my kids just loved the dish. Each trip to BKK tis restaurant is a MUST visit. They also hve other outlets at Siam Sq n Central World . But we still like gg back to the multi storey restaurant @ Rachada. Always packed n make sure you make reservations to avoid disappointment. Thanks Pailin. I now can make tis dish at home in SG for my family. 😊

[@marzouqalotaibi]

Your cook is perfect, your language is perfect as well , big like from Kuwait 🇰🇼

[@jasminnat]

Thank you for making this video. This dish is so delicious. 😍

[@melita3333]

It looks delish! I usually have the shrimp, chicken or vegetarian version at the street food restaurant across the street from work... I'm so going to try that recipe coz crab is just the best.😋

[@soldatjj]

my mom used to make this w whole crab & I always thought it was the biggest pain to eat lol. Plus on the technical side, I loved the picture-in-picture view you used for this video!

[@wowreally6111]

I once encounter a Korean friend and she told me, her first Thai friend she had, that her favorite Thai dish is ปูผัดผงกะหรี่ (Poo Pad Pong Karee). She literally pronounced the Thai name in her Korean accent and I was so surprised, not only because I did not expect the dish to be such well known abroad since it's not like an iconic dish foreigners usually talk about but also because she said it in Thai hahaha

[@alexwansss]

The garnishes really did MAGIC on this dish! Looks so good! Honestly even before the garnish I wouldn't have minded the look of the dish, but the garnish really said "Jazz hands"

[@davidlevine1697]

this is my Thai wife's best dish. back in the day when we were living in Chonburi, on the coast, and we would meet the boats on the beach when they brought in the fresh crabs for the day. nothing beats this dish with super fresh seafood. We have also made this with large shrimps (leaving the skins and heads on for extra flavor). Easier for most to eat and also a bit less expensive and accessible for those not near a good fish market.

[@waynez5535]

This was a favorite child hood dish of mine and my parents would just call it seafood wrap in Chinese without ever knowing the actual Thai name of it. 30 years later, I am glad after recalling from my memories the contents of this dish, Google led me to this video. Thank you Pailin!

[@MrJohnely]

👍Hi, dear Pai!🥰💐 I love crab meat that much, that I do not care a lot about the look of the dish, as the sauce is appearing a bit curdled because of the eggs in it... it's the great taste that counts! By the way, your presentation actually looks very pretty😍👍 I definitvely want to give this recipe a try....❤... can't wait! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, dear Pai😋🌺, and thank you so much for your new cookbook SABAI, which I have received just a few weeks ago❤🎉 it is AMAZING! Lots of love and greetings from Switzerland, Esther🙋‍♀️

[@parinceo]

My family also always order just the meat part 😆It's my top favourite childhood dish. Having lived abroad, frozen shrimp also works and it is a good compromise between price/taste but if you want the real stuff then it needs to be crab. 👌

[@bennypaulino9506]

Thank you for sharing this recipe. Crab is my favorite and all I do is steam or cook it in garlic/sesame oil. Will definitely try this delicious recipe.

[@wplace6660]

We tried this dish in bangkok. Super yummy. Creamy and soft curry. Love it.

[@gigimijares]

My favorite Thai dish❣ Thanks for sharing this recipe❤😍

[@TubeSurfer898]

Don't be embarrassed of how it looks, Pai. When I first saw it I honestly thought it looked similar to hot and sour soup in color but with less liquid in it. It has the egg drop soup egg look to it. It looks tasty and nice and gentle on the mouth. :)

[@nicekit]

we have this in most of the south east asia.. like thailand and singapore i usually describe it as curry scramble egg with crab meat inside... so ppl will associate it with scramble egg which isnt beautiful to begin with :D

[@debbywiens9736]

I can’t wait to try this! You are just so darn cute! Don’t ever apologize for what a dish looks like. I know presentation is important but taste is what matters!

[@barbaramarinelli7632]

..rice makes everything looks pretty and so much appetising..🤤🤤

[@kenc2257]

It looks delicious. We love the delicate taste of crab.

[@DiegoManoel]

In Brazil, there is an appetizer known as Casquinha de siri, made completely different but looks the same and its so good!

[@ohwowoh7281]

This doesn’t look ugly. It looks delicious!

[@user-jf6hu7cx8e]

It's the most delicious dish I tried in Thailand apart from Tom Yam. Thank you for the recipe. It doesn't look ugly at all. It looks great.

[@lonelyHill147]

This is my fav ever, actually it's the best I've ever tried as well.

[@feelingveryattackedrn5750]

I think it looks really pretty with the rice!

[@jackyboygee777]

Hi Pai, i have actually made my own version of this many times over the years, but this video is a great help, thanks gorgeous, stay well.

[@stephanesivilay1516]

I was sooooo waiting for your version of ปูผัดผงกะหรี่​ ขอบคุณมากครับคุณไพ

[@olivependerghast1]

I think my daughter would love this, I’m going to have to try it out

[@PSKleczek]

I’m so glad you made this! It’s one of my favorites 😊

[@amidalapat-me2526]

สวัสดีค่ะคุณไพลิน (ถ้าสะกดผิดขออภัยด้วยค่ะ) อาหารน่าทานสุดๆเลยค่ะ ขอบคุณที่แชร์อาหารไทย ให้ทั่วโลกได้รู้จักนะคะ

[@maxnewgen]

I find adding green and red capsicums makes the look a little more appealing ❤❤❤

[@teddymanguerra]

My second favorite Thai Dish after Moo Cha Muang!!! I don't care how it looks, I'm gonna eat it any day, any time!!!!

[@anandabliss9997]

Made my mouth water! I’m making this tonight!

[@gregbrooks7233]

Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing.

[@NomenNescio99]

I have already eaten this dish in Thailand, it is at least as tasty as Pai described it. I think I may have been drooling a little when I watched this video.

[@peterdoe2617]

To make this is a no brainer to me! Can't wait to make it! A few things: Canned crab meat is surely nothing you ever wanna buy! Still expensive. Watery. Still has some of the glass bones in it: I totally agree! BUT! What I learned from our local asian grocery store here in Pinneberg, Germany: there is frozen crab meat! A game changer! Comes at a reasonable price. Not watery. No bones. So, if you can't get fresh: ask your local asian grocer for that. I don't like celery. I think I'm gonna use scallions. As well as maybe even some chives on top. About the onions: I sometimes soak mine in thin soy sauce for some 20min, beforehand. Does anyone else do that, too? As for the curry: if you're from the US: one of the most delicious curry powders I ever bought was the "mild curry" from The Spice Merchant in Witchita, KS. (1300 E. Douglas Witchita, KS 67214) Amazing! And I think this one would compliment this dish just perfectly. Greetings from the far north of Germany!

[@SouBuuS]

I make something VERY similar to this with the shell on whole crab! perfect combination!

[@billycorgi6342]

Is not ugly. From someone who has worked in Bangkok and lived in Samut Prakan, I can smell and taste the dish on the computer screen! My youngest son once did steal it from his mother's plate as a 9 month old. It is now (and still is) his favourite Thai dish. He made learn to cook it when we returned home. My version uses chopped whole blue swimmer crab. Roe crab is best!

[@barbaragoodson8212]

I'm so excited to try that!!

[@axelcarlisle]

This is one of my favorite curries! And in Thai restos here in the Philippines can get pretty expensive. So whenever I’m in Bangkok, I try my best to eat it, too.

[@LadyGrace87]

This is one of my absolute favorites, and it was so hard to find! I could only get it down in the Rayong area in the nicer restaurants.

[@grandguy_23]

Just ate that dish yesterday at Pupen Restaurant in Pattaya. Great. But yours looks better. 😋

[@djxtrodinaire]

Looks fantastic to me!🥰

[@nikobatallones]

No wonder it isn’t ugly to me - this reminds me of canned sardines and egg, a pretty quick dish some Filipino families do! (And me.)

[@jfalk6500]

so happy to see this recipe, i think the trick with "ugly" dishes is just (as you did) to acknowledge that it looks a bit funny and move on - really looking forward to trying this one day edit: also i feel like this is a thing that often happens with delicate proteins and ingredients when you cook them - but yeah really happy every time i see you post stuff Pailin, keep up the good work!

[@Prinren]

Wooo I’m early. I love crab and curry so I’d love this!

[@laurabee7358]

I’m going to try this with chicken and shrimp! Don’t care what it looks like as long as it’s delicious!

[@peghioknasikchek2824]

Wow ! 😍 I believe you ! This recipe is indeed yummy ! I often cook this dish with tuna flakes, because it's cheaper 😁 I ever share my recipe in one of fb page " Simple But Delicious" Sadly some of the page member give me a very hush comment, starting with the word "YULK!!!" 😖 But I'm fine with it, it's her loss.. Because this dish is "TASTY!!!" 😋👍 Tq so much, dear Pailin ! 🤗❤

[@aimeevang3145]

That looks DELICIOUS! I do not judge food by their looks. Yum!!

[@dragonmaejo]

น่าทานมากครับ หิวเลยดูตอน 2 ทุ่ม 🤤 ผมชอบแบบนี้แหละท่านง่ายดี มาทั้งกระดองเกะยาก แต่มีกะดองมันหอมดีนะ

[@edwardholroydpearce3815]

Thank you so much for doing this recipe Kuhn Pai! One of my favourites.

[@trueblue7779]

Mmmmmm!!!!! I wish so bad I could taste this!! Thank you for sharing the recipe! ❤

[@chang5256]

I love this dish very much, thank you 🙏

[@danielsebag1759]

Usually if it doesn’t look good I don’t try the dish but in this case I will try 👍

[@emeraldbucket]

Bet you had so much fun making this one. Thanks for the humor 😂

[@octobersix]

It took some time for me to try poo pad pong karee. But, once I did, I was hooked. Our favorite spot has been Krua Apsorn for years. But, we have found a small khao gaeng shop that really rivals it for about 2/3 the price. Both use large chunk crab claw meat. I'm definitely going to try out your recipe. Shrimp is also a good substitute.

[@hilly971]

My father in law used to make this. The recipe is great with King crab.

[@shuhadea]

I cooked this recipe but replace the crab meat with soft shell crab. I deep fry the crab and prepared the curry sauce separately then poured the sauce on top of the crab. Not an original way but at least my guest know I’m cooking a crab not an egg curry😅

[@Sierra7329]

As a Thai can confirm, this dish is sooo goood