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Vol.
17 10/ 2003 |
3rd year edition |
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Chef Trinh Binh Khon
Shrimp on Crab Legs (Càng
cua bọc tôm).
Yield: 10 servings
Ingredients:
10 Crab legs or several hard -shell crabs
Shrimp paste, prepared as -for Shrimp on Sugar Cane
1/4 c Vegetable oil.
NUOC CHAM
1 Clove garlic
1/2 Fresh hot red chili pepper -or 2 dried
2 ts Heaping, granulated sugar
1/8 Fresh lime
2 tb Fish sauce (nuoc mam)
2 1/2 tb Water, more if necessary
Directions:
Here we have a party dish that will bring out "oohs" and "ahs" from your guests on sight -
and a repeat performance on taste. Crab claws, alone, are sometimes
available in fish stores. If they aren't, boil several hard shell crabs and use
the claws; you can use the bodies in many other dishes.
The crab claws in fish stores are already partially peeled and serve not only
as a handle but are edible as well. If you prepare your own claws, peel the
upper section around which you mold the shrimp paste.
Boil the crab legs or crabs for about 10 minutes, then drain and cool; remove
the claws from the crabs, if using, and reserve the bodies for another
purpose. Have the shrimp paste ready; preheat the oven to 350F.
Pour the oil into a bowl. Dip your fingers into the oil and pick up 2
tablespoons of the shrimp paste. Mold it into an oval around and halfway down the
crab claw, covering the part of the claw where it was attached to the body;
this will leave a claw tip extended to serve as a handle. Place the claws on a
baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
Serve with Nuoc Cham and
watercress.
NOTE: In
NUOC CHAM:
This exciting sauce is almost always served at Vietnamese meals,
just a Westerners serve salt and pepper. It's base is nuoc mam (bottled fish sauce).
Freshly prepared, it is a constant delight, and so addictive to Western
palettes that it will appear with meals other than Vietnamese. To best
appreciate the results of its superb blending qualities at the table, use it
sparingly at first, gradually adding more until the result is just right for
your palate.
Peel the garlic. Split the chili pepper down the center and remove the seeds
and membrane. Cut into pieces and put into a mortar, together with the garlic
and sugar. Pound into a paste. Squeeze the lime juice
into the paste, then with a small knife remove the pulp from the lime section
and add it as well. Mash this mixture and add the fish sauce and water.
NOTE: If you find this a trifle strong at first, dilute it with an additional
1/2 tablespoon of water.
Makes 10 servings
From "The Classic Cuisine of Vietnam", Bach Ngo and Gloria Zimmer.
Please send email to rtrinh1@yahoo.com for questions or ideas.