Kevin Belton Crabmeat Stuffed Shrimp Food

EGGPLANT, CRABMEAT AND SHRIMP CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Peel and dice eggplant into 1-inch cubes. Boil in enough water to cover with 1 tablespoon salt until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well and set aside. Saute onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic in olive oil until very tender. Fold vegetable mixture into eggplant. Add lemon juice, Worcestershire, Lea and Perrins, Creole seasoning, hot red pepper sauce, 1 cup cracker crumbs, Parmesan, salt and cayenne, then eggs. Gently fold in seafood. Place in greased casserole. Top with bread crumbs and melted butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

BLUE CRAB BEIGNETS

Steps:

• Beignet batter: In a mixing bowl, whisk baking powder, cornstarch, salt, and flour to combine. Gradually whisk in beer and continue stirring until no lumps remain and the batter yields a ribbony texture. Set aside.
• Crab filling: In a bowl, mix mascarpone, chives, and shallot until thoroughly combined. Season with salt to taste. Fold in the crab meat, separating without breaking up the individual lumps, and gently mix just to combine. Chill for 10-15 minutes. (In the meantime, prepare the aioli: see Step 4 for instructions.)
• Frying the beignets, part 1: Fill a heavy-bottomed cast-iron pot ¾ full with peanut oil (about 3 cups) and heat oil to 375 F. Roll 1-1½ tablespoon-sized balls of the crab mixture and use a spoon to drop them on top of the beer batter. Make sure the oil is ready by dropping in a few beads of batter to see if they fry.
• Frying the beignets, part 2: When the oil is ready, gently roll the crab balls in the batter to coat completely; leaving holes will cause the mascarpone to melt out. Lift the balls from the batter and let them slide off the spoon into the oil. Fry until crisp and deep golden brown, about 4 minutes. (You may have to fry in batches.) As you fry, continually adjust the heat to keep the temperature at 375 F.When the beignets are done, use the spider strainer to place them on paper towels to drain. Prepare a serving plate with a layer of aioli; place beignets on the aioli, sprinkle with flaky salt, and serve with lemon slices. Aioli recipe: Roughly chop garlic clove on cutting board; add ½ tablespoon salt and use the back of a knife to repeatedly press the garlic and salt together to make a paste. Place in a bowl along with a squeeze of lemon and 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard. Whisk in 2 egg yolks, then slowly drizzle in a ½ cup olive oil, whisking the entire time until emulsified and creamy. Season to taste with salt and white pepper.

BAKED STUFFED SHRIMP WITH CRABMEAT STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Line your baking dish with foil, and butter or spray with non stick cooking spray.
• Place the crabmeat in a large bowl and season with the Cajun Seasoning, Old Bay or salt and pepper, (your choice).
• Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• In your fry pan, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat.
• Add the onions, celery, and bell peppers and cook, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes.
• Add the parsley and the garlic, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and let cool.
• Add the cooled vegetables to the crabmeat and toss to combine.
• Add the mayonnaise, egg, lemon juice, Worcestershire and hot sauce and stir gently.
• Add 1 cup of cracker crumbs, salt and pepper to taste, and stir gently, being careful not to break up the crabmeat.
• Spoon the crabmeat stuffing evenly into each shrimp (about 2 Tbsp), and place, stuffed sides up, in your baking dish.
• Drizzle with the remaining melted butter.
• Bake until golden, about 20 minutes.

EMERIL'S CHILDHOOD FAVORITE: CRABMEAT-STUFFED SHRIMP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a large baking dish and set aside.
• Place the crabmeat in a large bowl and season with the Essence. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• In a large skillet, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add the onions, celery, and bell peppers and cook, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the parsley and the garlic, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Add the cooled vegetables to the crabmeat and toss to combine. Add the mayonnaise, egg, lemon juice, Worcestershire and hot sauce and stir gently with a large wooden spoon. Add 1 cup of the cracker crumbs, the salt, and pepper, and stir gently, being careful not to break up the crabmeat.
• Mound about 2 tablespoons of the crabmeat stuffing into each shrimp, press gently to close, and place, stuffed sides up, in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of the flaky, buttery cracker crumbs over the stuffed shrimp and drizzle with the remaining melted butter. Bake until golden, about 20 minutes.
• While the shrimp are baking, heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add the olive oil. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook, stirring continuously, for 1 minute. Add the kale and saute until the kale is just wilted, about 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Place the kale on 4 plates. Remove the shrimp from the oven and divide among plates, on top of the kale. Garnish with parsley and lemon wedges. Serve immediately.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

CRAB MEAT STUFFED SHRIMP

Steps:

• Peel shrimp leaving tails and slice down middle deveining as you go.
• Lay on greased cookie sheet to form a circle with the tail pointing up.
• (Fan the tail out for beauty and handle) Mix first 7 ingredients and gently fold into crabmeat.
• Place a spoonful of crabmeat mixture on top of the circle.
• Top with fresh parmesan (optional) Place cookie sheet in 350 degree oven for 15 minutes, remove with spatula to serving tray, Serve immediately.
• Also, try stuffing mushrooms which only take 10-15 minutes in the oven, same temp.
• To prepare for a party, prepare trays, cover with plastic wrap and store in refrigerator, then just place in oven when ready and serve in 15 minutes!
• Having medium shrimp saves money and makes more of a finger-food size.
• I've made extra and frozen some to be used as side dishes.
• If you can't get seafood where you live, you can order all supplies from a seafood place in Florida- Joe Patti's Seafood online.
• Even mid-westerners can enjoy a special fresh seafood treat.