Dungeness crab is in season from early winter to early summer. Seattleites can buy live Dungeness crabs at a reasonable price at Uwajimaya and Mutual Fish. Ibuki recommends that you enjoy the delicate flavor of the crab by simply boiling it in salt water and dipping the meat in ponzu sauce. The perfect match with a glass of sake!

Ingredients (1 serving)

• 1/2 cup Mizkan™ AJIPON® (Aji Ponzu)
  - Citrus Seasoned Soy Sauce
• 1 Dungeness crab, live
• 15 cups water
• 1/2 cup sea salt
• 1/2 cup sake

Directions

1. Boil water in a large saucepan; add salt and sake. Use as much water as possible and keep the salt concentration at 3% so that it is similar to seawater.
2. Clean the live Dungeness crab under running water by using a scrubbing brush or tawashi. Let the crab hold some wooden chopsticks, since it may pinch you otherwise.
3. Put the crab in the boiling water. After the water returns to a boil, let it cook for 12 minutes. Do not overcook.
4. Take out the crab and cool down under running water.
5. Take off legs. Make a cut line on leg shells and place on serving plate.
6. Remove the carapace from the body. You may stick your thumb into the hole between the body and the carapace at the back of the crab, then remove gently
7. Remove and discard the spongy, inedible gills from the side of the body and the black guts from the middle of the body.
8. Fold the crab in half to crack the body into two parts. Use chopsticks or a crab fork and take off the white meat that forms in clusters divided by thin sections of shell.
9. Place the meat in a small serving bowl. Serve with ponzu dipping sauce.

What to do with the shells and guts?
The leftover shells and clean orange part of the guts of the crab may be used for miso soup. Boil them with 4 cups of water for about 10 minutes. Remove shells using a sieve, then add 3 tbs of miso paste. Add tofu and chopped green onion. Enjoy!

Ponzu for seafood

The citrusy ponzu sauce is a great choice if you want a less buttery, lighter sauce to enhance the delicate flavor of fresh seafood.