蟹肉湯粉（Bun Rieu) Crab Noodle Soup (11/12/16)

Ingredients:

Tofu:
8 oz medium-firm tofu https://youtu.be/_cerIh0TP9w
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Herbs & Vegetables:
8-10 sprigs spearmint
8-10 sprigs Perilla
8-10 sprigs Vietnamese balm
2 cups bean sprouts
20 water spinach stems + 1/4 tsp salt
2 garlic cloves
1 small shallot
6 medium tomatoes
2 green onions
6 sprigs cilantro

Crab & Meat Mix:
3/4 cup dried shrimp + 2 cups boiling water
1/3 lb ground pork
2-6 oz cans of crab meat, drained
3 large eggs
1 Tbsp fish sauce
1/4 ground black pepper

Sautéed Tomatoes:
1 tsp vegetable oil
2 Tbsp tomato paste
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 ground black pepper

Soup:
12 cups chicken stock http://youtu.be/7PB569XoD-Y
8-10 cooked crab claws
2 Tbsp fish sauce

Accompaniments:
10-12 cups cooked rice vermicelli (approximately 14 oz dry noodle) http://youtu.be/hYdOMfp7QH8
2 limes cut into wedges
red chilies
shrimp paste

Yields: 4-6 servings