Spicy Crab and Bacon Stir-Fry with Wonton Strips

Square dumpling wrappers are not just for making dumplings. They can also be cut into short, 1/4- to 1/2-inch-wide strips and cooked with delicious results. This spicy crab-and-bacon stir-fry combination was given to me by an Indonesian friend living in New England. Indonesians love hot, spicy foods, and this spicy crab dish is no exception. Feel free to add the fresh chilies to your taste. I do not use oil for this stir-fry. The bacon usually has enough fat for stir-frying the other ingredients.

Spicy Crab and Bacon Stir-Fry Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh square dumpling wrappers, cut into 1/4- to 1/2-inch-wide strips or 1 pound fresh broad rice noodles
• 1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 8 ounces sliced bacon
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 1 large shallot, minced
• 2 scallions, trimmed and minced
• 2 lemongrass stalks, trimmed to 8 to 10 inches and grated
• 3 to 4 red Thai chilies, stemmed, seeded, and minced
• 12 to 16 ounces lump crabmeat
• 1 cup fresh shelled green peas, or frozen peas, thawed
• Fish sauce
• Freshly gound black pepper

Instructions

1. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil over high heat. Cook the dumpling-wrapper noodles until tender yet firm, about 1 minute. Drain, toss with the oil, and divide among individual soup bowls or plates.
2. In a wok or large skillet over high heat, stir-fry the bacon until it renders its fat and is crispy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, shallot, scallions, lemongrass, and chilies, and continue to stir-fry until golden, about 5 minutes. Add the crabmeat and peas and toss well. Season with the fish sauce and pepper to taste and divide among the servings of noodles. Serve hot.