Crab and corn soup, and Indian-style corn
SWEETCORN fried with peanuts, mustard seeds and chilli is a great side dish with chicken or seafood.
SWEETCORN fried with peanuts, mustard seeds and chilli is a great side dish with chicken or seafood. While the soup is nicest with fresh crab, the tinned version also works well.
Crab & corn soup
2 large corn cobs
600ml chicken stock
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 spring onions, finely sliced
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
1 tablespoon cornflour
1 teaspoon sesame oil
200g cooked crab meat
1 egg plus a pinch of salt, beaten
Stand each cob on its end and cut through the sides with a sharp knife; tip corn kernels into a bowl. Set aside, reserving stripped cobs. Boil stock and stripped cobs for 20 minutes; discard cobs and set aside stock. Heat oil in a large saucepan; fry spring onion and ginger for about 30 seconds. Add corn kernels, stock and soy sauce. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Combine cornflour with 2 tablespoons water, sesame oil and a few splashes of hot soup, stirring until smooth. Tip cornflour mixture back into soup, stirring until simmering and thickened slightly. Stir in crab meat. Pour beaten egg into soup, stirring with a fork to break up strands as they form. Season to taste. Serves 4
And to drink … A fragrant young white such as the 2014 Yangarra Viognier ($25)
Indian-style corn
3 tablespoons sunflower oil
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
3 spring onions, sliced
600g corn kernels (about 2-3 cobs)
50g unsalted raw peanuts, chopped
3 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander
2 teaspoons sesame seeds
Paste
2 fresh green chillies, seeds left in
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger
Make paste by pounding ingredients in a mortar with a pestle. Heat oil in a large frying pan or wok and add mustard seeds. Cook for 1 minute then add spring onions and corn kernels, and stir-fry over high heat for 2-3 minutes. Add paste and peanuts and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in coriander and sesame seeds. Remove from heat, cover and leave to rest for 5 minutes. Serves 4 as a side dish.
And to drink … Try with an India Pale Ale (of course) such as Feral Hop Hog ($5.50)