SAUTÈED CRABCAKES WITH SWEET RED PEPPER SAUCE
Makes 12 crabcakes
INGREDIENTS
Crabcakes:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 medium (about 4 ounces) red bell pepper, cored, seeded and diced 1/2 medium (about 4 ounces) yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded and diced 1/2 medium (about 4 ounces) red onion, diced
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon diced jalapeno pepper 2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives 2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill
2 teaspoons chopped Italian parsley leaves from 2 sprigs fresh thyme 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 extra large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
1 cup almond meal*
1 1/4 pounds fresh crabmeat, any shells removed
Red Bell Pepper Sauce:
5 tablespoons (2 1/2 ounces) unsalted butter
1/2 medium (about 4 ounces) red pepper, cored, seeded and diced 1/2 medium (about 4 ounces) red onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, mashed leaves from 2 sprigs thyme 1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup heavy cream
juice of 1/2 medium lemon salt
freshly ground white pepper
2 tablespoons (1 ounce) unsalted butter about 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 cups mixed greens of your choice, cut or torn into
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METHOD
1.Prepare the crabcakes: In a
2.In a small saucepan, reduce the cream with the jalapeno until 1/2 cup remains. Cool and add to the onion mixture. Stir in the chives, dill, Italian parsley, thyme, salt and cayenne pepper. Stir in the egg and 1/2 cup each bread crumbs and almond meal. Gently fold in the crabmeat. Mixture will be lumpy. Correct seasonings to taste. Divide the mixture into 12 crabcakes, about 2 1/2 ounces each.
3.Combine the remaining 1/2 cup each breadcrumbs and almond meal on a flat plate. Dip both sides of each crabcake into the mixture and coat well. Place on a tray and refrigerate, covered, 2 to 3 hours, up to 6 hours.
4.Prepare the sauce: In a
5.Scrape the contents of the skillet into a blender and purèe until smooth. Strain, return to a clean pan and reheat. Whisk in the remaining 2 table- spoons of butter and the lemon juice and season to taste with salt and pepper. Keep warm.
6.When ready to serve, in 1 or 2 skillets, melt the 2 tablespoons butter with the vegetable oil. Over
PRESENTATION
Divide the salad greens among 6 large plates. Arrange 2 crabcakes on the greens, drizzle sauce around the greens and on top of the crabcakes. Serve immediately.
TO PREPARE AHEAD: Through step 4. In step 5, return the sauce to a clean pan but reheat over a low flame and continue with the recipe when ready to serve.
Note: Coarsely ground or chopped uncooked shrimp can be substituted for the crabmeat.
*To make the almond meal, grind blanched almonds in food chopper, being careful that you don’t overgrind – you want the texture of fine bread crumbs.
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