Crab Hoecakes With Blueberry Corn Salsa Food

MINI CRAB CAKES WITH CHERRY TOMATO AND CORN SALSA

Steps:

• Crab Cakes:.
• Put crabmeat in medium bowl, sprinkle with lemon juice, and gently toss.
• In large bowl, mix together bread crumbs, egg, mayonnaise, scallions, parsley, mustard, salt and pepper to taste.
• Add crabmeat and mix together gently.
• Shape into small patties, about 1 inch thick and 2 inches wide, and place on baking sheet.
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
• Heat 1 tbsp each of butter and oil in large skillet over medium-high heat and cook half of the crab cakes until golden, 3-5 minutes per side.
• Drain on paper towels.
• Heat remaining butter and oil and repeat with the rest of the crab cakes.
• To serve, divide salad greens among 6 plates. Top each plate with three crab cakes and spoon the salsa over them.
• Cherry Tomato and Corn Salsa:.
• Bring large pot of water to boil. Add corn, return to boil and cook for 5 minutes.
• Lift corn from water and set aside to cool.
• When cool enough to handle, scrape kernels off cobs with small, sharp knife and transfer to large bowl.
• Add tomatoes, onion, scallions, capers, vinegar, cumin and hot sauce and toss gently.
• Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
• The salsa will keep in the refrigerator for up to three days.
• Makes about 3 cups of salsa.

CRAB HOECAKES WITH BLUEBERRY-CORN SALSA

Steps:

• Corn: Invert a small bowl into a large bowl. Place the larger round end of corn upright on the inverted bowl. Run a knife down the cob cutting the corn kernels so they fall into the large bowl (this method will keep the corn contained in the bowl while easily cutting away every kernel). Run the knife down the cut cob to release the corn milk into the bowl. Repeat with remaining corn, then remove the small bowl.
• Salsa: To the corn add the blueberries. Finely dice the onion and add to the bowl along with lemon juice. Core the tomato then using a serrated knife dice about the same size as the corn and blueberries. Add to the bowl with as much juice as possible. Finely chop cilantro stems (save leaves for another recipe) and add to the salsa. Removes mint leaves (discard stems), finely slice and add to the salsa along with two big pinches of salt. Stir and let rest 15 minutes and up to 1 day. Makes about 4 cups.
• Crab: In a large bowl add chives, mayonnaise, mustard, hot sauce, coriander, lemon zest and juice. Trim and peel garlic then using a microplane grate the garlic into the crab. Add a pinch of salt and olive oil and whisk to combine. Pick through the crab for shells then gently fold into the dressing. Let rest in the refrigerator 15 minutes.
• Hoecakes: Cut the onion into several pieces and add to the blender along with buttermilk. Puree until smooth. Set aside. In a bowl stir together cornmeal, salt, and sugar. Stir in buttermilk onion mixture. Add enough water so it's the consistency of slightly loose pancake batter, starting with ¼ cup and adding a tablespoon at a time if necessary (Chef Howard says all cornmeal is different so adjust with water to get the proper consistency). If the consistency is correct but water pooling in the batter, add flour to further bind the batter. Stir and set aside.
• Preheat a skillet to medium heat, 1 minute. Add vegetable oil and swirl the pan so the oil evenly covers the bottom. Spoon 2 tablespoons of batter onto the edge of the pan to form 1 hoecake. If the batter sizzles a little, the pan is ready. Continue to drop the batter making 2 more hoecakes making sure they're evenly spread out and not touching. Lower the heat slightly and cook for about 3 minutes. When the edges are brown and the tops dry, flip and cook an additional 3 minutes adding more oil if necessary. When golden brown with a lacy edge remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Repeat with remaining oil and batter.
• Assembly: Stir olive oil into salsa. Set aside. Place hoecakes on a serving platter. Place several tablespoons of crab on the bottom of each hoecake. Top with several tablespoons salsa. Serve.