My Kep crab story starts in a crazy maze bar in Da Lat, Vietnam. I was sat nursing a cold can of beer when a shady American guy huddled up next to me and said, ‘Have you heard about the crab in Kep?’ To which I replied ‘No.’
‘It’s the best and greatest crab in the world dude. Go to Kep.’
‘Okay,’ I said rather stunned, ‘and where exactly is Kep?’
It turns out Kep is a completely brilliant, hidden gem in Cambodia, famous for not only its crab but also its peppercorns. Enter the most delicious seafood dish I have eaten in my entire life. That’s not even an exaggeration.
Welcome to Kep. It is situated about 30 minutes south and down the coast from Kampot, also a beautifully sleepy town and popular amongst the backpackers. You may have heard of Kampot as it is home to geographically protected Kampot peppercorns, who proudly brandishes the title of “World’s Best Pepper.” However Kampot’s famous peppercorns are actually grown in Kep. Kep is a coastal town and fishes blue crab fresh out of the sea daily and in abundance. The locals have combined these two fantastic ingredients to create my new favourite dish- fried crab in peppercorn sauce.
Trust me, this is something else! For just $7.50 you can get a kilo of crab, plucked fresh out the sea before your very eyes, cooked and pan fried in the most amazing cream and green peppercorn sauce. It is served with a mound of rice and Kampot’s favourite peppercorn dipping sauce (also incredible-recipe below). This is the epitome of fresh food. Crabs from the sea and green peppercorns from the plantations mere kilometres up the mountains behind you.
If a sit-down restaurant style dish isn’t what you are after then the crab market (situated next to the restaurants) may be your kind of place. $5 will get you a kilo of crabs and a lady will cook them for an additional $2.50. You can’t complain. This is a must try.
Kampot’s black pepper sauce
- 2 teaspoons of freshly ground black Kampot pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of sugar
- The juice of a lime
Easy and delicious for dipping seafood and BBQ meats.
sampling the globe 