Name: Stir-fried chilli crab or lobster in the shell
Cuisine: China
Ingredients: 1 large crab or lobster, about 2 kg/4½ lb, or 2 smaller ones of at least 1 kg/ 2¼ lb each; 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped; 1 teaspoon mild chilli powder; peanut oil, for stir-frying; 1 heaped teaspoon soft brown sugar; 2 thin slices peeled fresh root ginger, finely chopped; 1½ teaspoons cornflour; 125 ml/4 fl oz water; 5 or 6 spring onions, trimmed and chopped; 6 hot red chillies, deseeded and finely sliced lengthways

Preparation info

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

Floyd's China

By Keith Floyd

Published 2005

About

This is a messy but delicious way to eat a fresh crab. You will need shellfish picks, fingerbowls and lots of paper napkins. You will also need a seriously good fishmonger who can provide you with a really fleshy, large crab or lobster and who will be prepared to despatch it for you, remove the inedible bits and then chop the main body and the large claws into large pieces. It is worth the effort, I assure you!