09/18/2019
Chilli mud crab
The classic chilli mud crab, with a DIY spin. Make your own sweet chilli and tomato sauce for a great depth of flavour to enhance the sweet flesh of the crab.
ingredients
2live mud crabs
50 mlcoconut oil
4garlic cloves, chopped
2long red chillies, chopped
5 cmpiece ginger, cut into julienne
1 tbspchopped coriander root
185 ml(¾ cup) chicken stock
1 tbspfish sauce
½ cupchopped spring onion, green part only
¼ cupmint leaves
¼ cupcoriander leaves
200 gcherry tomatoes, halved
Hoisin sauce
80 ml(⅓ cup) tamari or soy sauce
2 tbspalmond butter
2 tspapple cider vinegar
2 tspsesame oil
1½ tspraw honey
¼ tspgarlic powder
¼ tsponion powder
¼ tspdried chilli flakes
Sweet chilli sauce
125 ml(½ cup) coconut vinegar (see Note)
115 g(⅓ cup) raw honey
2 tbspfish sauce
2long red chillies, seeded
3garlic cloves
1 tspfinely grated ginger
1½ tbsparrowroot mixed with 2 tbsp cold water
Tomato sauce
180 gtomato paste
2 tbspapple cider vinegar
1 tspgarlic powder
1 tsponion powder
1 tspraw honey
½ tsppowdered gelatine
½ tspground cinnamon
½ tspground nutmeg
½ tspground cloves
Instructions
Freezing time 2 hours
To make hoisin sauce, whisk all ingredients and ¼ teaspoon pepper in a small bowl to combine. Transfer to a sterilised glass jar or container (see Note). The sauce can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
To make sweet chilli sauce, place coconut vinegar, honey, fish sauce, chilli, garlic and ginger in a food processor with 65 ml water and blend until smooth. Transfer to a saucepan placed over high heat and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes or until sauce has reduced by half. Whisk in arrowroot mixture and continue to whisk for 30 seconds. Remove from heat, cool and transfer to a sterilised glass jar or container (see Note). The sauce will keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
To make tomato sauce, combine tomato paste and 80 ml (⅓ cup) water in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer (add more water if you prefer a thinner sauce). Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients. Cool and transfer to a sterilised glass jar or container (see Note). The sauce will keep refrigerated for up to 4 weeks.
To prepare crabs, freeze crabs for 2 hours to put into a stupor, then place each on its back with the eyes facing you. Drive a thick skewer or the point of a sharp knife between the eyes and into the centre of the crab. Break off tail flaps on the underside and discard. Cut each crab in half lengthwise, then carefully pull off the back shells and reserve. Remove the soft gills and discard, then rinse and discard the stomach sac. Cut each half into three pieces and crack claws.
Heat oil in a large wok over high heat, add garlic, chilli, ginger and coriander and stir until fragrant. Add crab and toss for 1 minute or until it changes colour. Add 60 ml (¼ cup) hoisin sauce, 80 ml (⅓ cup) sweet chilli sauce 120 ml tomato sauce, stock, fish sauce and 1 teaspoon of sea salt, stir and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until crab is just cooked through. Stir through spring onion, herbs and tomato. Remove from heat and serve with crab crackers, crab pickers, finger bowls filled with warm water and lemon, and bibs.
Notes
• Coconut vinegar is available from Asian and Filipino food shops.
• It is essential to sterilise jars before filling them to prevent bacteria from forming. You can reuse any glass jar as long as the lid seals well. To sterilise jars, bottles and metal spoons in the oven, preheat oven to 120°C. Wash items in soapy water, rinse, then dry. Place equipoment (inclduing non-plastic lids) on an oven tray and place in oven for 20 minutes. Remove and fill jars while still hot. To sterilise jars, bottles, containers and metal spoons in the dishwasher, wash on the hottest cycle. Dry, then fill jars, bottles and containers while still hot.
