Soft Shell Crabs In Black Bean and Chili Sauce
Grrrrrgh!
Course : Beans
From: HungryMonster.com
Serves: 4
 

Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1      cup           oil for deep frying
   4                    soft shell crabs
   2      tablespoons   oil for stir frying
                        -----seasonings -- (put in bowl-----
   2      tablespoons   salted black beans: rinsed -- in hot water,
                        -- drained
                        into a paste
   4                    garlic cloves -- minced
     1/2  teaspoon      ginger root -- minced fine
   2                    dried red chili peppers -- tear into small
                        -- pieces
                        not discard seeds
   1                    scallion -- cut into pea-sized
                        including the green
     1/2  cup           green or red bell pepper -- chopped
                        -----sauce mixture -- (mix in bowl-----
   1 1/2  tablespoons   Chinese shaohsing wine or -- pale dry sherry
     1/2  teaspoon      sugar
     1/4  teaspoon      msg -- (opt.)
   2      tablespoons   thin soy sauce
     1/4  cup           chicken broth -- clear
   1      teaspoon      cornstarch -- mixed with 2t
                        water
 

Preparation:

1. Heat 1 cup oil in Wok to deep-fry temp. Add crabs and deep fry until they turn orange. Drain crabs and discard oil. Clean and dry the Wok. 2. Heat the Wok over high heat. Swirl in 2 T oil. When oil is hot, add seasonings. Stir fry for about 30 seconds. Add bell pepper and stir fry for about 10 seconds. Stir in sauce mixture. Put cooked crabs back into Wok. 3. Cover, turn heat to low, and cook until sauce comes to a boil. Stir in cornstarch and water. Stir and cook until sauce is thickened. Put on a serving plate. Serve hot. NOTE: For a less pungent hot dish, use 1 T salted black beans and 1 dried chili pepper. When you buy soft shell crabs, be sure they are still alive. Usually they look quite dead, weak and limp. Touch their legs, eyes, or mouth. Even if they respond only slightly and slowly, they are still alive. Refrigerate them as soon as you get home. Cleaning them is quite simple. Clip off the eyes and mouth. Lift the top shell and remove the soft feather-like gills and discard them. Turn the crab bottom up. Tear off and discard the cartridge. (the shape of the female's is half-oval, the male's is a narrow triangle