Crab In Ginger Sauce

Course :	Chinese
From:	HungryMonster.com
Serves:	4

Ingredients:

2	medium	ready-to-cook whole -- hard-shell crabs
8	medium	green onions
1	small	red pepper
1	piece	fresh gin -- (about 4x1-inch or, 1ox2.5 cm)
3/4	cup	water -- (180 ml)
2 1/2	tablespoons	dry sherry -- (37 ml)
1	teaspoon	sugar -- (5 ml)
1	teaspoon	instant chicken -- bouillon granules (5 ml)
2	teaspoons	soy sauce -- (10 ml)
2	teaspoons	cornstarch -- (10 ml)
2	tablespoons	vegetable oil -- (30 ml)
1/2	teaspoon	sesame oil -- (2 ml)

Preparation:

1. Rinse crabs with water. Remove shell. With small sharp knife gently cut away the gray spongy tissue and discard. Rinse crabs with water. 2. Cut off claws and legs. Pound claws lightly with back of cleaver to break shell. Chop down center of crabs to cut body in half. Cut each half crosswise into 3 pieces. 3. Cut onions into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces. Remove seeds from pepper. Cut pepper into thin strips. Pare ginger root. Cut ginger into thin slices, then cut the slices into very thin strips. 4. Combine 1/2 cup (125 mL) of the water, the sherry, sugar, bouillon and soy sauce. Combine remaining 1/4 cup (60 mL) water and the cornstarch. Blend well. 5. Heat vegetable and sesame oils in wok over medium heat. Stir- fry ginger in the oils for 1 minute. Add cut up crabs. Stir-fry for 1 minute. 6. Add sherry mixture and pepper to crab. Stir-fry over high heat until liquid boils. Reduce heat to low. Simmer covered for 4 minutes. Uncover and stir in cornstarch mixture. Cook until sauce thickens. Add onions. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Makes 4 to 6 servings. From "Chinese Cooking Class Cookbook" by the Editors of Consumer Guide, Publications International LTD, 1980. ISBN 0-517-322455.