| 1 | c | Oil for deep frying |
| 4 | | Soft shell crabs |
| 2 | tb | Oil for stir frying |
| | SEASONINGS (PUT IN BOWL |
| 2 | tb | Salted black beans: rinsed in hot water, drained, and mashed into a paste |
| 4 | | Garlic cloves, minced |
| 1/2 | ts | Ginger root, minced fine |
| 2 | | Dried red chili peppers, tear into small pieces, do not discard seeds |
| 1 | | Scallion, cut into pea-sized pieces, including the green |
| 1/2 | c | Green or red bell pepper, chopped |
| | SAUCE MIXTURE (MIX IN BOWL |
| 1 1/2 | tb | Chinese Shaohsing wine or pale dry sherry |
| 1/2 | ts | Sugar |
| 1/4 | ts | MSG (opt.) |
| 2 | tb | Thin soy sauce |
| 1/4 | c | Chicken broth, clear |
| 1 | ts | Cornstarch, mixed with 2T cold water |
