Crab And Roasted Pepper Spread Food

CHEESY HOT CRAB AND RED PEPPER SPREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Reserve 1/2 cup mozzarella; refrigerate until ready to use. Combine remaining mozzarella with all remaining ingredients.
• Spread onto bottom of 9-inch pie plate.
• Bake 20 min. or until crab mixture is heated through and top is lightly browned. Top with reserved mozzarella.

CRAB-AND-CHEESE-STUFFED MINI PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
• Cut the peppers lengthwise and remove the stems, seeds and ribs. If needed, trim a small amount off the bottom of each pepper half so that it will lie flat when cut-side up (making them steady is important so the filling stays intact during baking). Chop the trimmings into small pieces and set aside.
• Toss the pepper halves in a medium bowl with the olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper. Set aside.
• Stir together the softened cream cheese and reserved pepper trimmings in another medium bowl until smooth. Gently fold in the crabmeat and season with salt and pepper.
• Fill each pepper half with about 1 tablespoon of the crab mixture so it comes over the top of the pepper slightly. Place on the prepared baking sheet and bake until the filling is beginning to brown, about 18 minutes. Serve warm.

ROASTED RED PEPPER SPREAD

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in a small food processor; cover and process until pureed. Store in the refrigerator.

MELTED-PEPPER SPREAD

Steps:

• Slice the onions thinly, into 1/8-inch half-moons. (A food processor is great here, and you can reuse it for the peppers later.)
• Heat the oil in a large, tall-sided skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onions and 2 big pinches of salt. Stir every couple of minutes so they become soft without getting too much color (browning in spots is fine), about 10 minutes total.
• Meanwhile, stem, seed and slice the peppers into 1/8-inch strips.
• When the onions are ready, add the peppers and garlic and another 2 big pinches of salt, and stir until the juices collect in the bottom of the pan, then let it cook. After about 10 minutes, the juices may have cooked off, so keep a closer eye on the pan, and stir more frequently so it doesn't burn.
• After 5 minutes or so, or when the sound has turned from a steamy bubble to a more crackling sizzle, you'll want to stir about 30 seconds to a minute, to pick up any bits that have caramelized, and dissolve them back in.
• After another 5 minutes, or when the peppers are very soft and spreadable and everything smells fantastic and sweet, add the thyme and vinegar and cook, stirring, for 1 more minute. Taste, and add more salt or vinegar if desired. Remove the peppers from the heat, and let cool. Store, refrigerated, for up to 2 weeks. It tastes best at room temperature or warm.

CRAB AND ROASTED PEPPER SPREAD

Steps:

• 1. Place all of the ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Mix, by hand, with a large spoon.
• 2. When well mixed, transfer to a crock. Cover and chill well.
• 3. Serve cold with your favorite cracker(s) and/or toast points.

CREAMY CRAB AND RED PEPPER SPREAD

Steps:

• Reserve 2 tablespoons onions. Mix remaining onions with all remaining ingredients except crackers.
• Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Top with reserved onions. Serve with crackers.

SOFT SHELL CRABS WITH CORN RELISH, FIELD GREENS AND ROASTED RED PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• In a deep saucepan, heat peanut oil to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, pepper, fennel and salt. Whisk in club soda and egg whites to form a smooth batter. Dip soft shell crabs in batter and fry in batches until golden brown, about 4 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels.
• Serve crabs with Corn Relish. Drizzle with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce and garnish with a pile of greens.
• Steam corn kernels until crisp-tender, about 3 to 5 minutes, set aside. Cut the kernels from the cob into a mixing bowl.
• In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add asparagus and mushrooms, cook until mushrooms give off their liquid and start to brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add red pepper, jalapeno and green onion. Cook just until scallions wilt, about 2 minutes. Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil. Stir in corn mixture and cook until corn is heated through.
• Combine pepper puree, shallots, and vinegar in a non-reactive saucepan. Bring to a simmer and simmer until shallots are tender. Add cream and stir to combine. Add lemon juice and whisk in butter, 1 piece at a time, until sauce is smooth and thickened. Season with salt, to taste.

CRAB CAKES WITH ROASTED RED PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Place cracker meal in a bowl and make a well in the center of the meal. Beat egg with milk and pour into well. Moisten cracker meal and combine liquid with meal using the tines of a fork. Add crab meat, crab boil seasoning, baking powder, parsley, lemon zest, celery, Worcestershire, hot pepper sauce, and mayonnaise to the bowl. Mix all ingredients well and form into 8 (3-inch) patties. Add 1/2-inch vegetable or canola oil to a skillet and heat to medium high temperature. Fry cakes 3 minutes on each side and drain on paper towel lined plate. Cook 4 cakes at a time, so that oil temp does not drop too low.
• For red pepper sauce, combine drained red peppers in a food processor bowl with mayonnaise and chili sauce. Pulse/grind the ingredients into a smooth sauce. Transfer sauce to a small serving dish.
• Serve crab cakes with sauce and lemon wedges.

HOLIDAY CRAB SPREAD

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese and sherry in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add shredded cheese, crabmeat, red peppers, parsley and black pepper; mix well.
• Press cream cheese mixture firmly into plastic wrap-lined 3-cup mold or bowl; cover. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or until firm.
• Unmold crab spread onto serving plate. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese; press into crab spread to secure. Serve with the crackers.

CRAB AND ROASTED RED PEPPER STRATA

Steps:

• Butter 10-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides. Whisk eggs and half and half in medium bowl to blend. Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and celery; sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add peppers and garlic; sauté 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in green onions, parsley and thyme. Transfer mixture to large bowl. Add crab and bread cubes and toss to combine. Add egg mixture, salt, and pepper; mix until well combined. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Let stand 30 minutes or cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Sprinkle strata with cheese. Bake until brown and puffed, about 1 hour. Cool on rack 30 minutes (center will fall). Using sharp knife, cut around edge to loosen. Cut into wedges and serve.

CRAB AND ROASTED RED BELL PEPPER SOUP

Steps:

• Make broth:
• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in heavy large wide pot over medium-high heat. Add crab shells and sauté until fragrant, about 10 minutes. Add 10 cups water and next 8 ingredients; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until broth is reduced to 12 cups, about 30 minutes. Strain broth through sieve lined with cheesecloth. Cool. Spoon fat from top of broth.
• Make soup:
• Char red bell peppers over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides. Enclose in paper bag and let stand 10 minutes. Peel and seed peppers. Transfer peppers to blender. Add 2 tablespoons butter. Puree until mixture is smooth.
• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add flour and cook until mixture is golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in broth, then red pepper purée. Bring soup to boil. Simmer until flavors blend and soup thickens slightly, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Soup can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Add reserved crabmeat and 1/2 cup chopped parsley to soup. Simmer just until crabmeat is heated through, about 2 minutes. Ladle soup into bowls. Spoon dollop of crème fraîche atop each. Garnish with parsley sprigs and serve.

RED PEPPER CRAB CROQUETAS WITH GARLIC-ALMOND SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the béchamel: Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute without browning. Gradually whisk in milk, 1/4 cup at a time, to obtain a smooth, thick sauce. Turn heat to low, add 1/2 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper. Continue to cook, stirring, for 4 to 5 minutes. Thin if necessary with a tablespoon or so more milk, but keep it the consistency of whipped cream.
• Make the crab mixture: Put crab meat in a mixing bowl and add warm béchamel. Stir in roasted peppers, cayenne, scallions, cilantro, and lemon zest and mix gently until ingredients are well incorporated. Taste for salt and adjust seasoning. Spread mixture on a baking sheet in a layer about 1 inch thick, cover and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours. (The crab mixture can be prepared up to a day in advance and refrigerated.)
• Assemble the croquetas: Arrange 3 small shallow bowls on a work counter. Add 1 cup of flour to one bowl, then season it with salt and pepper. In second, add the beaten eggs. Fill the third bowl with bread crumbs. Weigh 1-ounce portions of the crab mixture and place on wax paper. Roll each portion in seasoned flour, then dip into egg and finally roll in crumbs, forming each gently into a sphere. Put breaded croquetas on a clean baking sheet and sprinkle with more crumbs. Repeat until all are breaded. Refrigerate, uncovered, until ready to fry.
• Make the garlic-almond sauce: Put almonds in a food processor and blend thoroughly, until finely ground. Add garlic and pulse to combine. With the food processor running, add a faint drizzle of olive oil as sauce thickens. The oil must be added very slowly or the sauce will separate or break. Continue adding the oil until it is all incorporated. Season sauce with salt to taste. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
• To fry croquetas, pour vegetable oil to depth of 2 inches in a wide, deep saucepan and place over medium-high heat. Bring oil to 375 degrees. Working in small batches, fry croquetas on each side until golden brown, about 4 minutes. (Too many in the pan risks significantly lowering the temperature of the oil.) Remove croquetas with a slotted spoon and transfer to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet. Season lightly with salt and keep warm in a low oven. Repeat until all croquetas are fried. Pile them on a serving platter and serve with garlic-almond sauce for dipping.