Spicy Crab Soup

I have long been toying with the idea of a food blog, mainly because I feel food should be shared, if not on a plate; at least with pictures and words :) and so thanks to friends on or off facebook...I have taken the leap from simply cooking to writing about my cooking...so strap on to your seats..its gonna be a burrpy ride :)

I'll start with an all time family favourite, simple to prepare yet so delish, you will know what I mean when you start cooking this...the aroma will fill your kitchen and bring the family out from wherever they may be...into the dining room ready to savour this delicious meal.

Spicy Crab soup

3 shallots
1 clove garlic
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 cm ginger
2 tbsp cooking oil (any vegetable oil will do)
300gm sand crabs cleaned & halved
3 cups water
Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:
Pound first five ingredients in mortar & pestle until broken up (not too finely). Heat oil in pan on medium high and stir fry pounded spices for 2-3 minutes and add water. Bring to a boil and add crab pieces. Cover pot and and cook another 10minutes. Season with salt & pepper and serve hot with chopped cilantro.