---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.02
  
       Title: ASPARAGUS AND CRAB MEAT SOUP - MANG TAY NAU CUA
  Categories: Vietnamese, Soups, Seafood
       Yield: 6 servings
  
       4 c  Chicken broth
       1 tb Plus 2 teaspoons nuoc mam
            -(Vietnamese fish sauce)
     1/2 ts Sugar
     1/4 ts Salt
       1 tb Vegetable oil
       6    Shallots, chopped
       2    Garlic cloves, chopped
       8 oz Fresh or canned lump crab
            -meat, picked over and
            -drained
            Freshly ground black pepper
       2 tb Cornstarch or arrowroot,
            -mixed with 2 tablespoons
            -cold water
       1    Egg, lightly beaten
      15 oz White asparagus spears, cut
            -into 1-inch sections with
            -canning liquid reserved
       1 tb Shredded coriander
       1    Scallion, thinly sliced
  
   Combine the broth, 1 tablespoon of the fish sauce, the sugar and salt
   in a 3 quart soup pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer.
   Meanwhile, heat the oil in a skillet. Add the shallots and garlic and
   stir-fry until aromatic. Add the crab meat, the remaining 2 teaspoons
   fish sauce and black pepper to taste. Stir-fry over high heat for 1
   minute. Set aside.
   Bring the soup to a boil. Add the cornstarch mixture and stir gently
   until the soup thickens and is clear. While the soup is actively
   boiling, add the egg and stir gently. Continue to stir for about 1
   minute. Add the crab meat mixture and asparagus with its canning
   liquid; cook gently until heated through.
   Transfer the soup to a heated tureen. Sprinkle on the coriander,
   scallion and freshly ground black pepper.
  
 -----

Plain Text Version of This Recipe for Printing or Saving