Indonesian Curried Crab
Grrrrrgh!
Course : Seafoods
From: HungryMonster.com
Serves: 4
 

Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   2                    blue crabs
   6                    shallots
   2      stalks        lemon grass
   2      teaspoons     tamarind
     1/2  cup           boiling water
   1      handful       coriander leaves
   3      cloves        garlic
   1      tablespoon    fresh galangal
   2                    birds-eye chiles -- seeded, up to 3
   4                    candlenuts
   1      teaspoon      blachan*
   1      teaspoon      turmeric
                        salt and pepper to taste
   3      tablespoons   oil
   2      cups          coconut milk
 

Preparation:

* hard dark brown shrimp paste Cut 4 green blue swimmers into quarters with a cleaver or large knife. With a hammer, gently crack the claws and harder sections of shell. Finely chop 6 shallots and 2 stalks lemon grass. Steep 2 teaspoons tamarind in half a cup of boiling water. Chop a handful of fresh coriander leaves. In a food processor, grind together 3 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon fresh galangal, 2-3 birds-eye chiles, seeded, 4 candlenuts (or substitute 8-10 cashews) and 1 teaspoon blachan, 1 teaspoon turmeric and salt and pepper to taste. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large wok or pan, and fry the paste until fragrant. Add shallots, lemon grass, crab pieces and 2 cups coconut milk. Simmer for quarter of an hour. Strain the tamarind water and add half to the sauce. Taste and add more if you wish. Ladle curvy into a serving dish and scatter the fresh coriander on top. Serve with plain rice.