Singapore chilli crab

• whole cooked crab↗1

  (about 1kg)

• flavourless oil2 tbsp tbsp
• garlic cloves↗3

  very finely chopped

• thumb-sized piece ginger

  very finely chopped

• red chillies↗3

  2 very finely chopped, 1 sliced

• tomato ketchup↗4 tbsp tbsp
• soy sauce↗2 tbsp tbsp
• handful coriander

  leaves, roughly chopped

• spring onions↗2

  sliced

• rice↗

  or steamed bad buns, to serve

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   The crab must be prepared before stir-frying (you can ask your fishmonger to do this). This involves removing the claws, the main shell, discarding the dead man’s fingers, then cutting the body into four pieces, and cracking the claws and the legs so the sauce can get through to the meat.

2. 2

   Heat the oil in a large wok and sizzle the garlic, ginger and chopped chillies for 1 min or until fragrant. Add the ketchup, soy and 100ml water, and stir to combine. Throw in the crab, turn up the heat and stir-fry for 3-5 mins or until the crab is piping hot and coated in the sauce. Stir through most of the coriander, spring onions and sliced chilli.

3. 3

   Use tongs to arrange the crab on a serving dish, pour over the sauce from the pan and scatter over the remaining coriander, spring onions and sliced chilli. Serve with rice or bao buns, and a lot of napkins.