serves
2
prep
10 minutes
cook
20 minutes
difficulty
Mid
serves
2
people
preparation
10
minutes
cooking
20
minutes
difficulty
Mid
level
Ingredients
- 1 large mud crab, cleaned
- 2 brown onions, roughly chopped
- 8 small red chillies, chopped
- 125 ml vegetable oil
- 3 tsp shrimp paste (belacan)
- 250 ml tomato puree
- 60 ml (¼ cup) light soy sauce
- 55 g (¼ cup) white sugar
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp white vinegar
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp cornflour or potato starch, mixed with 125 ml water
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- coriander leaves, to serve
Instructions
Remove the crab's top shell and chop the crab into quarters. Crack the claws to allow the flavours to penetrate. Set aside.
Place the onion and chilli in a food processor and process to a puree.
Heat the oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add the onion and chilli puree and the shrimp paste, and fry for 6-7 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated and the paste begins to change colour. Add the tomato puree, soy sauce, sugar, tomato sauce, tomato paste, vinegar and salt, and mix through. Add combined cornflour and water and bring to the boil.
Add the crab pieces and cook, covered, over a medium heat for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until the shells turn red and the crab is cooked through. Stir through the egg and toss lightly to coat. Garnish with coriander.
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Cook's Notes
Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.
