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Akotonshi is a delicious stuffed crab dish. This crab dish is associated with feasting in Ghana. It’s cooked with either large fresh blue or red crabs with a variety of spices, tomato, and bread crumbs, and it’s absolutely tasty.
Crabs are a good source of protein and at the same time have low amounts of saturated fats. I’m not sure Akotonshi would make so much sense as a meal without the crab in it. The grab, for Ghanaians, is the real deal! Nothing less.
Where Did Akotoshi Originate From?
Akotonshi originated from Ghana. It’s wide knowledge that Ghana boasts of several unique and tasty dishes and this one is not left out. Without needing to fly to Ghana, there are a plethora of delicious foods, including this one that you may prepare from the comfort of your home.
When Ghanaians think of a feast, this dish comes to mind. It is highly recommended for most public and family celebrations in Ghana. Getting a packet of fresh crab flesh from local fishermen is the first step in making this dish.
Akotonshi Nutritional Benefits
This appetizer is great for diabetics because it contains chromium. Chromium helps insulin to metabolize sugar which leads to low sugar levels in the blood. Are you a seafood lover? Then try this simple and highly nutritional crab dish when you feel like trying something exciting.
Akotonshi Recipe
Check out the processes involved in making your crab dish below.
Akotonshi
Ingredients
- 2 large Whole crabs or cooked crab meat
- 1 large Fresh ginger
- 2 tbsp Cooking oil
- 1 large Onion minced
- 1 tsp ginger ground
- 2 large Tomatoes finely chopped
- 1 tbsp Tomato paste
- 1 large Green bell peppers finely chopped
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp Ground cumin
- 1 tsp Cloves ground
- 1 tsp Dried thyme leaves
- 1 tsp Grains of paradise, ground to a powder (Optional)
- 2 medium Minced African bird peppers (use hot Thai peppers if unavailable),
- 1/2 cup Dried shrimp
- Plain bread crumbs
- Parsley
- salt
Instructions
- If cooking whole crabs, clean them and bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Add in the ginger, cloves and the crab, cook for 15 minutes.
- Remove crabs and meat, keep shells for plating.
- If using just crab meat Mix crab meat with ¼ cup water that has been boiled with the ginger piece and cloves for 15 minutes.
- Drain water, flake the meat and set aside.
- In a heavy pot,heat oil to medium temperature and add other ingredients in the following sequence, stirring for a minute or so between each: onions, ground ginger,tomatoes, tomato paste, green pepper, cumin, nutmeg, thyme, grains of paradise,paprika, mashed peppers, and dried shrimp.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 4 – 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until vegetables are cooked.
- Add crab meat and stir another couple of minutes to heat it through.
- Then spoon the mixture into clean crab shells or ramekins (small individual baking dishes).
- Sprinkle breadcrumbs on top of each crab and toast under an oven broiler, being careful not to let the crumbs scorch.
- Garnish with parsley.
Image Source: The food dictator
