STIR-FRIED CRAB MEAT WITH CASSAVA NOODLES

It is needless to say that this dish too is of Chinese origin, Xao is the word for stir-frying. You often find this dish with stir-fried vegetables. There is also a delicious variant with crisply fried pieces of eel.

INGREDIENTS

» 2 tbsp pure vegetable oil

» Two shallots, chopped small

» One clove of garlic chopped finely

» Six dried tree-ear mushrooms, soaked in water for 30 minutes, hard parts removed and chopped finely

» One carrot, fine julienne

» 100 g cassava noodles, soaked in water, drained

» 2 tbsp fish sauce

» 1 tbsp dark soya sauce

» 3 tbsp sugar

» 1 tbsp water (optional)

» 300 g crab meat, in pieces

» Two spring onions, in 4 cm pieces

» 1 Thai chilli, in rings (optional)

GARNISH

» handful coriander

» fresh black pepper

STEP BY STEP!

1/ Put the oil in a wok, sauté the shallot and the garlic on low heat. Add the tree-ear mushrooms and the carrot, and stir-fry them for 2 minutes.

2/ Add the cassava noodles and mix them well among the other ingredients. Season to taste with fish sauce, dark soya sauce and sugar If necessary add one tablespoon of water.

3/ With a spatula pull the noodles along the sides of the work, put a little extra oil in the wok and stir-fry the pieces of crab together with the spring onion and, if wanted, the chilli, for 1 minute till done.

4/ Next mix the noodles through the stir-fried crab. If necessary add a tablespoon of water.

5/ Put this in a serving dish and finish off with coriander and a turn of the pepper mill.

WORTH KNOWING
You could if you wish also add a lightly beaten egg and stir-fry it with the rest.