Black pepper crab

Ingredients

• 3 large live crabs
• a handful curry leaves
• 10 cloves garlic, peeled
• 5 shallots, peeled
• 3 thumb-sized young ginger, peeled
• 6 stalks scallions, cut into 1"
• 3 stalks lemongrass
• 2 to 3 tbsp black peppercorns, coarsely ground
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp miso paste
• 1 tsp chili paste
• 2 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp dark sweet soya sauce
• salt to taste
• coriander leaves to garnish

for deep frying:

• 280 g unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup canola oil