July/August 2008
- 1/2 cup toasted sesame oil
- 1 pound live blue crab
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 ounces fresh ginger root, sliced
- 1 stalk lemongrass, sliced
- 1 bottle Harbin beer
- 7 ounces shrimp paste
- 1 quart heavy cream
- sea salt
Chop the blue crab in half, and place the pieces in a colander to drain the juices. Heat the toasted sesame oil in a large stockpot over high heat, and sauté crab shells and meat for 15 minutes. Add onion, garlic, ginger and lemongrass, and sauté for another 15 minutes. Add Harbin beer and shrimp paste, and simmer for 15 minutes. Cool slightly. Strain the mixture through a large colander first and then through a sieve. Add heavy cream and sea salt to taste.
