This recipe is from the book 'The Cuban Table' by Ana Sofía Peláez!
In Harina con Cangrejo, fresh crabmeat is added to a peppery sofrito with a touch
of hot sauce, then sprinkled with lime juice and poured over creamy cornmeal porridge.
It is a particular favorite of the river goddess Oshún, represented by la
Caridad del Cobre, Cuba’s patron saint. Perhaps because of this harina—or
yellow cornmeal, synonymous with hard times— is a cherished comfort food.
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Serves 4 to 6
Cornmeal:
1½ cups coarse yellow cornmeal
salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Enchilada:
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 large green bell pepper, stemmed, cored, seeded, and diced
1 large red bell pepper, stemmed, cored, seeded, and diced
1 medium white onion, diced
4 large garlic cloves, peeled and minced
14½ oz can fire-roasted tomatoes, diced
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 dried bay leaf
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ teaspoon pimentón
¼ teaspoon ground celery seed
½ lb fresh lump crabmeat, picked through for shells and well drained
Tabasco or similar hot pepper sauce
fresh lime wedges
- Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a heavy 5- to 6-quart pot.
- Add the cornmeal in a steady stream, whisking constantly until well blended so that no lumps form.
- Lower the heat to medium-low, stirring frequently until the cornmeal begins to pull away from the sides of the pot but is still creamy and smooth. This will take about 15–20 minutes.
- Add salt and black pepper to taste.
- Heat the oil in a 12" skillet over medium heat.
- Add the green and red peppers, onion, and garlic, and sauté until the onion is soft and translucent. This will take about 6–8 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes, vinegar, bay leaf, salt, black pepper, pimentón, and celery seed.
- Bring to a simmer and cook until the tomatoes begin to break down, about 10 minutes.
- Add the crab and warm until just heated through, 3–5 minutes.
- Adjust the seasonings to taste.
- Divide the cooked cornmeal into individual bowls and top with the crab mixture.
- Sprinkle with Tabasco sauce or lime juice to taste.
TIP:
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