Crab deserves to be celebrated, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a super-fancy, laborious meal. Crab midweek? Yes, please, and fried rice is my fallback whenever I am in a dinner pickle. That’s not to belittle its deliciousness, complexity or elegance, though, because this spiced crab version can be as fancy as you like. That said, the speed and ease with which I can create a meal that I know everyone will love is the winning factor. Plus, I often have leftover cooked, chilled rice in the fridge, anyway, which is always the clincher (cooked rice has a better texture for frying once chilled).
Prep10 minCook25 min, plus coolingServes4
Fine sea salt250g jasmine riceVegetable oil4cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped½ tsp ground white pepper2 tbsp fish sauce2 tbsp soy sauce3 large eggs, beaten200g mixed crab meat1 bunch fresh coriander, finely chopped1 green chilli, finely sliced2 limes, halved
Bring a large pan of salted water to a boil. Wash the rice until the water runs clear, then boil it for 10 minutes, or until it is just cooked through. Drain, rinse under the cold tap and leave to cool completely (if possible).
When you are ready to fry the rice, set a large wok or frying pan on a high heat and add a couple of tablespoons of oil. Add the chopped ginger and garlic, stir-fry for a minute, then add the rice. Stir in the ground white pepper and the fish and soy sauces, then stir-fry for a few minutes, until the rice is piping hot. Push the rice to the side of the wok, pour the beaten eggs into the middle of the pan and scramble for a minute or two. Break up the cooked egg and stir it into the rice.
Add the crab to the wok, then stir-fry until everything is cooked through and hot. Stir in the chopped coriander and sliced chilli, and serve with the lime halves.