Crab Chive Filo Parcels Food

CRAB & CHIVE FILO PARCELS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the crabmeat with the other filling ingredients and gently stir to combine. Taste and add more lemon juice or seasoning as necessary.
• Place one sheet of filo on the work surface. Split it in half and lay one half on top of the other. Add a quarter of the crab mixture to the middle of the pastry and shape it into a rectangle just a bit bigger than a debit card. Make a well in the middle of the mixture using your thumb, or the back of a spoon, and carefully put the egg yolk in it. Moisten the edges of the filo and fold them up and in to wrap the crab in a neat parcel. Make sure the edges are overlapping and there are no gaps. Turn the parcel over so the seams are facing down and repeat with the rest of the pastry and crab mixture.
• To make the salsa, toast the cumin seeds in a dry frying pan until aromatic and starting to crackle, taking care not to let them burn. Remove from the heat. Combine all the rest of the salsa ingredients in a bowl and add the cumin seeds. Stir, taste for seasoning and adjust as required.
• To cook the parcels, heat the olive oil and the butter in a frying pan until sizzling. Add the fennel seeds to flavour the oil then the parcels, one or two at a time, cooking for a couple of mins on each side until crispy and golden. Remove with a spatula and drain on kitchen paper. Repeat with the other parcels. Drain any of the leftover oil/butter/fennel mix used for frying into the salsa, then serve the parcels with the salsa on the side.

CREAMY CRAB PHYLLO PARCELS

Steps:

• Thaw phyllo sheets according to package directions.
• In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, parmesan, mayonnaise, chives and Tabasco; mix until smooth. Fold in crab (if using frozen crab, squeeze out excess liquid first).
• Prepare and handle phyllo according to package directions. Double each sheet and cut into strips. Brush with melted butter; add 1 tablespoons of crab filling to a strip and sprinkle with 2-3 peppercorns before folding into triangles (the method is explained on the package). Brush again with melted butter. Place in a 9x13 - inch glass baking dish. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack; freeze.
• To serve: Place frozen pastries on a cookie sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until hot.

CRAB CEVICHE

Steps:

• Place the shredded imitation crab into a glass or porcelain bowl. Plastic or metal are not recommended. Stir olive oil into the crabmeat until well coated, then stir in the cilantro, onion, tomato and serrano peppers. Squeeze the lime juice over everything, and mix well. Season with plenty of salt and pepper. Refrigerate for about 1 hour before serving.

CRUNCHY CRAB PARCELS (WITH FREEZING DIRECTIONS)

Steps:

• Boil the potato for 15 minutes until soft.
• Meanwhile, place 1 ounce of the butter and all of the cream in a heavy-based pan and bring to the boil.
• Slice the green onions, separating the green and white parts, then add the white slices to the boiling liquid and cook for 1 to 2 minutes to soften.
• Pass the cooked potato through a ricer or sieve to a really fine mash and then add to the pan and mix everything together. Set aside to cool.
• Add the crabmeat and sliced green bits of the onion to the potato mixture and stir together.
• Melt the remaining butter.
• Unwrap the filo pastry and cover with a clean, damp tea towel to prevent it drying out.
• Brush melted butter over one sheet, place another on top and brush again with butter. Then add a final sheet of filo.
• Cut the filo sheets into 3 long strips. Then cut each strip in half across the middle.
• Place a teaspoon of the crab onto the bottom right-hand corner of each filo strip.
• Fold the filo over to make a triangle, then fold again, rolling up the strip.
• When the mixture is enclosed and you have neat triangle shape, place on a baking tray and brush with more butter.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees and cook the rolls for 15 to 20 minutes until golden and crisp.
• To serve, pile the parcels up on a plate or bowl. Then scatter over the extra sliced green onion, if you like.
• FREEZING DIRECTIONS: These can be frozen if using fresh crab. Freeze at the point before cooking. They can be frozen for up to a month.

CRUNCHY CRAB PARCELS

Steps:

• Boil the potato for 15 mins until soft. Meanwhile, place 25g of the butter and all of the cream in a heavy-based pan and bring to the boil. Slice the spring onions, separating the green and white parts, then add the white slices to the boiling liquid and cook for 1-2 mins to soften. Pass the cooked potato through a ricer or sieve to a really fine mash, then add to the pan and mix everything together. Set aside to cool.
• Add the crabmeat and sliced green bits of spring onion to the potato mixture and stir together. Melt the remaining butter. Unwrap the filo pastry and cover with a clean, damp tea towel to prevent it drying out. Brush melted butter over one sheet, place another on top and brush again with butter. Then add a final sheet of filo.
• Cut the filo sheets lengthways into 3 long strips. Then cut each strip in half across the middle. Place a teaspoon of the crab onto the bottom right-hand corner of each filo strip. Fold the filo over to make a triangle, then fold again, rolling up the strip. When the mixture is enclosed and you have a neat triangle shape, place on a baking sheet and brush with more butter. Can be made ahead up to this point and frozen for up to 1 month.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Cook the rolls for 15-20 mins until golden and crisp. To serve, pile the parcels up on a plate or bowl, then scatter over with extra sliced spring onion, if you like.