The Special Cù Kỳ Crab, a Famous Delicacy of the Coal Country

Quảng Ninh cuisine always offers special experiences with dishes that are both unusual and delicious. One of the ingredients that creates the distinctive dishes of this land is cù kỳ crab. So what is cù kỳ, and what delicious dishes can be made from it? Join MIA.vn’s Travel Guide on a journey to this locality to find out!

1 Cù Kỳ Crab - A Unique Delicacy of the Coastal Region

1.1 A Brief Introduction to Cù Kỳ Crab

Cù kỳ is also known as cù kỳ crab, cùm crab, or rock crab because of its hard outer shell. It is a specialty commonly found in Vietnam’s coastal areas, particularly in Quảng Ninh.

Cù kỳ crabs usually have two large claws, brown shells, and green eyes, and often live in warm seas. This crab is famous for its firm, delicious meat, which can be prepared into many unusual and distinctive dishes. According to many food lovers, although cù kỳ meat is not especially sweet, it is tastier than swimming crab and more affordable, making it popular with many people.

This crab is called cù kỳ because it has a large shell, claws that curl inward, and moves more slowly than other sea crabs. Cù kỳ has a total of three pairs of legs, one pair fewer than sea crabs. At the same time, this species has two large, thick claws. These are also the main meaty parts of the cù kỳ, unlike its rather spongy body.

Currently, cù kỳ usually costs around 90,000 - 110,000 VND/kg, for approximately 9 small crabs. For large cù kỳ, 1kg contains around 5 or 6 crabs and costs approximately 120,000 - 170,000 VND. Hairy cù kỳ is more difficult to catch and therefore more expensive, usually ranging from 200,000 - 300,000 VND/kg for around 3 to 5 crabs. These are the prices at markets in Quảng Ninh. However, the prices are for reference only and may vary depending on the market period.

1.2 Benefits of Cù Kỳ Crab

Cù kỳ is considered a highly nutritious food and attracts many Quảng Ninh food lovers. This crab contains various essential nutrients, including zinc, phosphorus, iron, iodine, and many other substances. With this special nutritional profile, cù kỳ is considered a delicious food with the following notable benefits.

- Boosts the immune system: cù kỳ provides abundant vitamins and many essential minerals, helping strengthen the immune system and enabling the body to fight certain diseases effectively.

- Supports bone and joint function: with its abundant calcium content, cù kỳ helps improve bone and joint function and prevent osteoporosis.

- Good for cardiovascular health: cù kỳ contains many fatty acids and omega-3, which help reduce bad cholesterol, increase good cholesterol, improve blood circulation, and protect cardiovascular health.

- Provides many essential nutrients: cù kỳ supplies high-quality protein as well as beneficial antioxidants, reducing the risk of chronic diseases.

2 Delicious Dishes Made with Cù Kỳ Crab

Cù kỳ is a fresh and appealing ingredient found mainly in coastal communities. So what delicious dishes can you create with cù kỳ? Join MIA.vn’s Travel Guide to find out!

2.1 Cù Kỳ Crab Soup with Winter Melon

Cù kỳ crab soup with winter melon is a rustic, familiar dish in Quảng Ninh’s coastal region. After the cù kỳ is boiled, its meat is pounded into small pieces. The meat is stir-fried with dried shallots and seasonings before being cooked with winter melon. When eating it, you can taste the delicate sweetness of the melon and cù kỳ meat. This is also a familiar summer cooling dish among Quảng Ninh residents.

2.2 Cù Kỳ Hotpot

Cù kỳ hotpot stands out for its broth, which is cooked with the crab’s roe. This dish makes use of almost every part of the cù kỳ, creating an aromatic and impressive flavor. The shell and body are usually ground and strained to extract the juice, adding more seafood flavor to the broth. The crab roe is commonly sautéed with tomatoes to create fragrance and richness. Cù kỳ hotpot is often served with sweet leaf vegetables, banana blossoms, watercress, cartilage ribs, snail patties, and more.

2.3 Cù Kỳ with Tamarind Sauce

Cù kỳ with tamarind sauce offers a harmonious sweet-and-sour flavor and a delicious, distinctive combination. The cù kỳ meat is stir-fried with a rich, flavorful tamarind sauce and can be enjoyed with fried shallots, cilantro, and Vietnamese coriander to enhance the taste.

2.4 Cù Kỳ Rice Noodles

Cù kỳ rice noodles are considered one of Quảng Ninh’s famous specialties and are especially popular with young people. This delicious dish has an elegant flavor, with clear, naturally sweet broth served with appealing, flavorful cù kỳ meat.

The broth for cù kỳ rice noodles is usually made with dried shrimp, dried squid, and the crab’s body to create a rich sweetness. The steamed cù kỳ claw meat, combined with rice noodles, broth, and fresh herbs, delivers a wonderful and unforgettable flavor.

2.5 Cù Kỳ Rice Noodle Soup with Crispy Rice Paper

Cù kỳ bánh đa is also considered a special, unforgettable dish in Quảng Ninh. It is prepared with familiar ingredients such as bánh đa, cù kỳ claw meat, crab roe, mantis shrimp, shrimp, scallions, tofu, and elephant ear stems. When enjoying it, you can taste the delicate sweetness of cù kỳ and the nutty richness of crab roe, creating a distinctive culinary impression.

2.6 Beer-Steamed Cù Kỳ

Beer-steamed cù kỳ is considered one of the simplest dishes to prepare while still preserving almost the crab’s original flavor. After steaming, the meat has a delicate sweetness and pleasant aroma. Dipping it in sweet-and-sour chili fish sauce creates an appealing and unforgettable taste.

2.7 Cù Kỳ Boiled in Coconut Water

Cù kỳ boiled in coconut water promises an unforgettable flavor. Boiling the crab meat in coconut water brings out its aroma. When eating it, you can serve it with lime pepper salt or seafood dipping sauce for a distinctive combination.

3 Some Delicious Cù Kỳ Restaurants in Quảng Ninh

To enjoy a delicious cù kỳ dish prepared in an authentic local style, you can refer to the list provided by MIA.vn below.

- Công Đoàn Cù Kỳ Rice Noodles: No. 1, Group 5, Area 9A, Hạ Long, Quảng Ninh

- Hường Béo Cù Kỳ Rice Noodles: 20 Tấn Mài, Bãi Cháy, Hạ Long, Quảng Ninh

- Cô Hậu Restaurant: 54 Lý Tự Trọng, Trần Phú Ward, Móng Cái, Quảng Ninh

- Cù Kỳ Rice Noodles - Seafood Rice Noodles - Cô Hương Clean Rice: 33 Trần Quốc Toản, Trần Phú Ward, Móng Cái, Quảng Ninh

Cù kỳ is a delicious specialty with an appealing flavor that you can find only in the coastal areas of Quảng Ninh or Khánh Hòa. If you have the chance to visit this region, remember to try this delicacy prepared in its many appealing styles. We hope that, with the information provided above by MIA.vn, you now have a more complete perspective on this renowned coastal specialty.