Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1      pound         Lobster or crabs
   6                    fresh red chiles
   5      cloves        garlic
   2      stalks        spring onions
   3      stalks        coriander -- (cilantro)
   3      tablespoons   vegetable oil
                        *** SAUCE ***
   3      tablespoons   tomato ketchup
   1 1/2  tablespoons   sugar -- according to taste
     1/4  teaspoon      salt
   1      teaspoon      pounded salted brown soya bean paste
   1      cup           water
   1 1/2  teaspoons     cornflour
     1/2  teaspoon      rice or malt vinegar of freshly squeezed
                        -- lime juice
     1/4  teaspoon      dark soya sauce

Preparation:

1. Wash uncooked shellfish well, break off the claws and crack the shell by gently hitting it with a pestle. When preparing crabs, chop the bodies in half and then each half into 3 pieces. Wash and retain the shells. When using lobsters, chop off the tail and head, and chop the body, with shell still on, into thumb length pieces. 2. Plunge head and tail of lobster into boiling water and cook till the shell turns red. Remove from water and set aside for decoration. 3. Peel garlic and pound coarsely. Pound chiles coarsely too. Or grind in a food processor. 4. Wash spring onions, discard roots, cut into finger lengths. Cut coriander into one-inch lengths. 5. Mix sauce ingredients except for the vinegar or lime juice. 6. Heat wok, add oil and when hot, add the garlic, stir fry for one minute, add chiles, stir fry for another minute and add crab or lobster pieces. 7. Stir fry for 2 to 3 minutes till shells turn slightly red. Stir sauce, add to the crabs or lobster and stir well for 2 minutes. Cover with a lid and simmer over high heat for 5 to 7 minutes till shells turn a bright red. 8. Remove cover, squeeze the lime juice over or add the vinegar, stir well and add spring onions. Turn heat off, stir well and serve, garnish with coriander leaves. The above menu is served with freshly baked bread pieces.