Food Fridays on Empty Streets: Chilli Crab Recipe

I have been craving for the old Singaporean Chilli Crabs ever since I got back from Singapore last 2006 and I have been looking around and trying out different recipes to try and replicate it here back home. It took me quite awhile and I have finally found one that actually works and I couldn't wait to share it here with all of you in today's Food Fridays.

Ingredients:

• 6 live blue crabs
• 4 tbsp peanut or vegetable oil
• 3 tbsp garlic, finely minced
• 2 tbsp ginger, finely grated
• 1 large egg
• salt and pepper

To Combine for the Chilli Sauce

• 4-5 tbsp or to taste Chilli Paste
• 1 cup tomato ketchup
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar or lemon juice
• 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 1/2-1 tbsp soy bean paste
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 cup water

Preparation

1. Clean Blue Crabs and cut into halves. Crack the shells and claws gently with a wooden mallet.
2. In a bowl combine chilli sauce ingredients, mix well.
3. Heat peanut or vegetable oil in a hot wok, add garlic ginger and chilli paste - stir fry for about 2 - 3 minutes.
4. Add combined chilli sauce ingredients to wok.
5. Bring sauce to a boil. Add salt and pepper to taste.
6. Toss in crabs, stir fry to coat with sauce, about 2 minutes.
7. Cover and cook crabs over medium to high heat until they turn red in color.
8. Lift cover from time to time to give it a good stir
9. When crabs are almost fully cooked, push crabs to the side of the wok, or remove them with a slotted spoon.
10. Break an egg intoo the sauce, stirring gently to form yello and white streaks, then mix the crabs.
11. Remove crabs from the wok and keep warm. Let it stand for about 10 minutes for the flavors to meld.
12. Serve with French Baguettes to dip into the yummy sauce. ;)

Here is a video presentation of the Chilli Crab recipe for those that like to watch how this tasty Singaporean recipe is done :)