For the custard: Whisk the chili paste and the chili oil together to loosen the paste. Add about a tablespoon of the evaporated milk and whisk to make sure there are no lumps of chili paste remaining. Add the rest of the evaporated milk, the eggs, oyster sauce, fish sauce and white pepper. Whisk until well combined.
1 Tablespoon Thai chili paste (nam prik pao), 1 Tablespoon Thai chili paste oil (the red oil that floats on top of the chili paste jar), ¼ cup evaporated milk, 3 large eggs, 1 Tablespoon oyster sauce, 1 Tablespoon fish sauce, ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
Have all your ingredients and serving plate ready to go and within arm's reach, as the cooking goes very fast!
Place a nonstick skillet or well-seasoned wok on medium heat, then add the oil, onions, and garlic and saute for a minute or so just until the onion doesn't taste raw but is still crunchy.
1 Tablespoon neutral oil, ¼ onion, 3 cloves garlic
Keeping the heat on medium, add the curry powder and stir for just 5 seconds to infuse into the oil. Do not use high heat or the curry powder will burn instantly.
2 teaspoons curry powder
Add the crab and toss for just 10-15 seconds to heat up the crab. Be gentle, try not to break up the crab too much.
7 oz fresh crab meat
Add the custard and using a rubber spatula stir without stopping until the mixture is thick and creamy, but still looks slightly undercooked. Off the heat, stir in the celery and immediately transfer onto a serving plate.
1 small handful celery leaves and thinly sliced stalk
Garnish with red pepper juliennes, more celery leaves and extra crab meat
A few pieces of julienned red chilies or bell pepper
Serve with jasmine rice and prik nam pla, if desired.
Prik nam pla, Jasmine rice