Bun Rieu Cua (Vietnamese Crab Noodle Soup Recipe)

Bun Rieu Cua (Vietnamese Crab Noodle Soup Recipe)
Ingredients
2 lbs. Pork Bone
5 Tomatoes
1 jar Crab Paste
3/4 cup Dried Shrimp (soaked in water)
1 whole Garlic minced
3/4 Onion
3 Eggs
1 tsp. Salt and 1 1/2 tsp. Salt and 1/2 tsp. Salt
24 cups Water
1/4 tsp. Mushroom Seasoning
1/2 tsp. Sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp. Oil
1 Tbsp. minced Garlic
1 tsp. Annatto Seed Oil or regular Oil
1 Tbsp. minced Garlic
Other ingredients
5 Large Fried Tofu
1 Block Pork Blood (optional)
1 package Rice Stick Noodles
Fresh Herbs
Water Spinach Stems
Shrimp Sauce (to taste)
Sliced Hot Chili Pepper
Sliced Limes
Hot Chili Sauce
Bean Sprouts
Fish Sauce (to taste)

Fill a large pot with some water, add in 1 tsp. Salt.  Then add 2 lbs. Pork Bone.  Bring to a boil, make sure the bones are semi-cooked. Remove from heat and drain out the water.
Rinse and clean the bones. Put the bones in a bowl and set aside. Using a clean large pot, pour in 24 cups Water. Add in the bones again. Add 1 1/2 tsp. Salt.  Bring to a boil and then down to a simmer. Skim the broth.
Continue to let it simmer.  While you let the broth simmer, finely chop 3/4 cup Dried Shrimp.  Soak the shrimp in water for 2-3 hours before chopping. When you are done, put in a bowl and set aside. Next, wash 5 Tomatoes. Cut and put into a bowl.
After the broth has simmer for 30 minutes. Add 3/4 of an Onion. Add 1/4 tsp. Mushroom Seasoning.  Add 1/2 tsp. Sugar. Add 1/2 tsp. Salt. Continue to let it simmer.
In a skillet, add 1 1/2 Tbsp. Oil.  Add 1 Tbsp. minced Garlic. Saute until slightly brown.  Add the Tomatoes. Stir for 1-2 minutes. Put the Tomatoes into the broth. Remove the Onion from the broth. Continue to let it simmer.
Using another skillet, add 1 tsp. Annatto Seed Oil or regular oil.  Add in the rest of the minced Garlic. Using medium heat, saute for a few seconds. Add the finely chopped Dried Shrimp. Stir until even. Add 1 jar of Crab Paste. Mix well.
Remove from heat and let it cool.  When the mixture has cooled down.  Crack 3 Eggs and mix until even.
Turn the heat of your soup to high and let it boils.  When it starts to boil, add in the crab mixture.  Remember you have to pour the mixture when it's boiling, doing so will help it floats to the top quicker. 
When you starts to see the crab mixture floats to the top, reduce the heat and let it simmer. This next part is optional. You can fry some Tofu to put in your soup. 
You can also include Pork Blood in your soup.  They sell blocks of Pork Blood at Asian Supermarket.  If you choose to put this in your soup. 
Remember to boil it then cut into smaller pieces.
Add in the Fried Tofu. Continue to let the soup simmer on low heat until you are ready to serve.  Next prepare the noodles and fresh herbs.
Fill a pot with water, bring to a boil. Add in 1 package of Rice Sticks. Let it boil for about 5-7 minutes or until soften.
Drain out the water. Rinse with cold water. Shuffle it a few times and set aside.
Fresh herbs you will need are Perilla  (Tia To), Vietnamese Balm (Kinh Gioi), and any other herbs you like. You will also need Water Spinach Stems and Bean Sprouts.  Using a knife split the stem into thin strips.  Soak in water and drain out when you are ready to use.
Scoop some Shrimp sauce and put on a small plate. Cut 1 Lime and place it on the plate. Slice some Hot Chili Pepper. If you like spicy, have a small dish of hot sauce.  Click on the link to learn how to make your own hot sauce.
To assemble, add some cooked Rice Stick Noodles into a bowl. You can add some cooked Pork Blood.  Pour in the soup with crab mixture, Tofu, and Tomatoes.
Place all the garnishes near your bowl.  Add some Shrimp Sauce or Fish Sauce.  Add 1 or 2 slice of Hot Chili Pepper. Add some Hot Sauce. Squeeze in some Lime Juice. Add some Fresh Herbs, Bean Sprouts, and Split Water Spinach Stems. Mix and enjoy your soup.