Crab and tofu soup

Ingredients

• 2 pieces Live brown crab
• 400 g Silken tofu
• 20 g Fresh ginger
• 2 pieces Scallion
• 2 cloves Garlic
• 30 ml Shaoxing wine
• 15 ml Light soy sauce
• 30 ml Neutral oil
• 1 tsp Sesame oil
• 10 g Cornstarch
• to taste Ground white pepper
• to taste Fine salt
• 1 bunch Fresh cilantro
• 800 ml Shellfish stock or water

Method

1. Prepare the crab: lift and remove the top shell, remove the gills and the stomach sac, cut the body in half and then into quarters, and lightly crack the claws with the back of a knife. Reserve the shells for the stock. (5 min - precise cutting motions, clean crab)
2. Cut the silken tofu into even cubes, handling it gently so it doesn't break. Set aside in a bowl of cold water. (2 min - clean and uniform cubes)
3. In a heavy pot, heat the neutral oil over medium heat. Sweat the sliced ginger and chopped scallion with the crushed garlic until fragrant but not browned. (2 min - aroma developed, no browning)
4. Add the crab pieces shell-side down and sauté until the shells turn bright orange-red and the meat starts to turn opaque. (3-4 min - bright red color)
5. Deglaze with the Shaoxing wine, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Let the alcohol evaporate until the harsh smell disappears. (1 min - no alcohol smell)
6. Pour in the hot stock or water, bring to a boil, and carefully skim off the brown foam that rises to the surface. (5 min - clear broth, no foam)
7. Gently add the drained tofu cubes, lower the heat, and simmer gently so the tofu absorbs the crab flavor. (8-10 min - slightly pearlescent tofu, fragrant broth)
8. Season with the light soy sauce, salt, and white pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning. (1 min - balanced salt and umami)
9. Dissolve the cornstarch in a little cold water, then pour it in a steady stream while stirring gently to slightly thicken the broth. (1 min - slightly pearlescent broth, not thick)
10. Off the heat, drizzle with sesame oil and scatter with chopped cilantro and green scallions. Serve immediately while piping hot. (1 min - sesame aroma, fresh cilantro)

Nutrition

Per serving

Energy

209.5 kcal

Protein

11.87 g

Carbohydrate

7.63 g

Fat

13.57 g

Fibre

1.84 g

Calcium

48.44 mg

Iron

1.2 mg

Magnesium

76.08 mg