Denjang jiege keh (spiced crab soup)

Yield: 4 Servings

Ingredients:

2 c Water
2 tb Denjang paste
1 Soft bean curd; in 1/2" cube
1 ts Hot red chili powder; mix -with 1 tb water
1 sl Ginger; size of a quarter
1 sm Onion; sliced (1/3 cup)
1 Garlic clove; crushed
2 Crabs; each in 4 pieces
1/2 c Zucchini; sliced

Instructions:

The people of Kwangju where this recipe originates like their food

salty and chili-hot. The fermented denjang paste provides the basis

of the seasonings, aided by the chili and ginger. The fresh crabs

absorb the flavors and the entire soup is enormously attractive. I

went to my teacher's house one August in the middle of a three day

pre-typhoon downpour. Sheets of water poured out of the sky as my

taxi wended its way to the edge of town. The rice fields in this

rice-growing region shimmered with an intense green as the rain

engulfed the paddy. It had a wild, wet beauty but I was glad when I

arrived and could concentrate in comfort on the crabs and the soup. 1. Put the water and bean paste (denjang) into a pan and simmer over low heat covered for 10 minutes. Add the bean curd and cook for 5 minutes more. 2. Now add all the other ingredients and cook for 15 minutes more. Serve in 4 individual bowls with rice and an assortment of side dishes. Source: "The Korean Kitchen" by Copeland Marks