King Crab En Croute With Porcini Duxelle A Top Matignon Vegetables Served With Bay Shrimp Blanc Food

OLD BAY KING CRAB LEGS

Steps:

• Put the crab legs in the bottom of a large stockpot, then cover with 4 quarts of water and stir in the seafood seasoning (see Cook's Note). Halve the lemons and squeeze the juice into the pot, then add the rinds. Cover and bring to a boil, then cook over medium-high heat until the crab legs are warmed through, about 5 minutes. Remove the crab legs to a large serving bowl or platter.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook until the butter foams and simmers, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and let stand 5 minutes. Using a spoon, remove any milk solids from the surface of the butter, then slowly pour the melted butter into a small serving bowl, leaving any watery, white whey behind in the saucepan. Serve alongside the crab legs.

BAKED SALMON TOPPED WITH CRAB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Take a baking pan and line it with foil. Spray a thin layer of PAM.
• Crumble crab meat.
• Take your salmon and cut open so it opens up like one of those science project boards. Season with one teaspoon lemon pepper. Close flaps.
• Spread mayonnaise on top of the fillet and sprinkle remaining lemon pepper onto salmon.
• Top salmon with crab meat.
• Sprinkle cheese onto the crab meat.
• Bake about 25 to 30 minutes.
• Then broil for 2 minutes or until the cheese turns brown.

CRAB STUFFED PORTABELLA MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan melt buter, add flour half the old bay and pepper, blend well.
• Slowly add milk, stir and cook until thickened.
• Add cheddar and stir until melted.
• Pour this over remaining ingredients, except crumbs and parmesan and mix well.
• Stuff Mushrooms with equal amounts of crab mixture and top with crumbs and parmesan-the amount is up to you-and bake in a 350 degree oven for 35-45 minutes.
• Serve with a salad, french bread and wine.

THE ULTIMATE MAKEOVER: SALMON EN CROûTE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Tip in the shallots and fry for 2-3 mins to soften, then add the mushrooms and garlic, and stir-fry over a high heat for another 3-4 mins, or until the mushrooms and shallots are golden and any liquid from the mushrooms has evaporated. Pour in the lemon juice - after a few seconds, that should have evaporated too. Remove from the heat, then stir in the watercress so it wilts in the warmth from the pan (see step 1). Stir in the dill and chives, and season with a little salt and pepper. Leave to cool.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. When the mushroom mix is cool, stir in the crème fraîche. Lay one of the filo sheets on the worktop with the short end facing you. Brush all over with a little of the remaining oil. Layer up 4 more of the filo sheets in the same way, brushing each with a little of the oil.
• Lay one of the salmon fillets, skin-side up, across the width of the filo, positioning it about one-third of the way up. Season it with pepper. Spoon and spread the cooled mushroom mix over the top of the fillet (see step 2). Lay the other salmon fillet on top, skin-side down. Season again. Fold the short end of pastry nearest to you over the salmon, then bring the other end over to completely enclose the salmon (see step 3), lifting it so the join can tuck under it. Fold both pastry ends over as neatly as you can.
• Brush the outside with a bit more of the remaining oil. Scrunch up the last sheet of filo, pressing it lightly on top in big folds (see step 4), then carefully brush with the last of the oil. Can be prepared 3-4 hrs ahead up to this point and chilled. Transfer the salmon parcel to the baking sheet. Bake for 25 mins until the pastry is crisp and golden. Check while it cooks and if the top starts to brown too quickly, lay a sheet of foil very loosely over it. Remove from the oven and let the salmon sit for 2-3 mins before slicing.

KING CRAB AND SHRIMP BOIL

Steps:

• Bring 6 quarts water to a boil in a large stewing pot; add seafood seasoning. Cook potatoes in the seasoned water for 15 minutes.
• Bring a separate pot of water to a boil; add seafood seasoning to taste. Cook crab legs until meat is tender, about 10 minutes.
• Mix carrots, celery, and onions into potatoes; cook until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Add sausage and corn and continue boiling for 5 minutes more. Add shrimp and transfer crab legs to same pot; cook until shrimp are cooked through and pink, 2 to 3 minutes.

NEXT LEVEL SALMON EN CROûTE

Steps:

• The day before you want to assemble the en croûte, mix the salt and sugar in a bowl. Scatter half of the mix over a tray, then lay one of the salmon fillets on top, skinned-side down, and scatter with more of the salt mix. Lay the second fillet on top, skinned-side up, and sprinkle over the rest of the salt mix. Cover, then place another tray on top. Weigh the tray down with a couple of tins and put in the fridge for up to 48 hrs, or for at least 12 hrs (the longer you leave it, the firmer the salmon will be).
• When you're ready to assemble the en croûte, unwrap the salmon fillets, rinse them in cold water and dry with kitchen paper, then set aside. Put the watercress, cream cheese, dill, lemon zest and juice, smoked salt (if using) and a generous grinding of pepper into a bowl and mix well, then set aside.
• Line a baking tray with parchment. Roll out half of the pastry on a lightly floured surface so it's 2.5cm larger in diameter than the salmon fillet, then drape it over the lined baking tray. Place one of the fillets on the pastry, skinned-side down, and spread with the cream cheese mix, then lay the second fillet on top, skinned-side up. Brush the edge of the pastry with a little of the beaten yolk. Roll out the rest of the pastry to fit, then drape it over the salmon and tuck it in at the sides. Trim the edges and crimp or press with a fork to seal. Brush with more beaten yolk, then put the en croûte in the fridge for 30 mins before using a spoon to create a scale-like effect along the top of the pastry. Chill for up to 24 hrs or for at least another 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Bake for 20 mins, then glaze with the remaining yolk. Lower the heat to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and bake for 20 mins more, then remove and leave to stand for 10 mins.
• To make the pickle, put the cucumber and onion in a bowl. Tip the vinegar, sugar and a pinch of salt into a pan and bring to the boil. Once the sugar has dissolved, pour over the veg, toss well and set aside. Can be made up to two days ahead and kept in the fridge. Slice the en croûte into six portions and serve with the pickled veg on the side.

KING CRAB EN CROUTE WITH PORCINI DUXELLE A TOP MATIGNON VEGETABLES SERVED WITH BAY SHRIMP BLANC

Steps:

• Directions: -in a small saute pan add the mushrooms, garlic, shallots and saute until soft add the wine and render down to a paste and mix with the crab. Place small amounts of the mixture onto the puff pastry (cut into 4X4 squares) roll close and seal with egg wash and brush with clarified butter. Let sit fro 5 min before baking at 350 degrees for 7 to 10 min. for the matignon vegetables, render the bacon until all fat has release and bacon is crispy. Add the vegetables and saute, deglaze with wine add season to taste, puree the mixture in robot coup or with handheld emersion blender and finish with fresh herbs. In a small sauce pot add the shrimp and saute until soft, add the garlic and cook until aromatic. Deglaze with wine and add lemon juice, mount with butter. Season to taste and finish with fresh chopped parsley. On a square plates place the matignon vegetables into 3 mounds and cut the pastry on a bias and arrange three tiers on top of the vegetables. Drizzle the sauce around the plate.

SEAFOOD EN CROUTE

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll each pastry sheet into a 12x10-in. rectangle. Cut each sheet into four 6x5-in. rectangles. Place a salmon fillet in the center of four rectangles., In a small bowl, combine the scallops, cream, onions, parsley, dill, salt and pepper. In another bowl, beat egg white on medium speed until soft peaks form; fold into scallop mixture. Spoon about 1/2 cup over each salmon fillet. , Top each with a pastry rectangle and crimp to seal. With a small sharp knife, cut several slits in the top. Place in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan; brush with egg. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°.