Nayarit Crab Stuffed Chiles Food

CRAB AND PROSCIUTTO-STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, combine the crab, cornflakes, half the prosciutto, the mayonnaise, scallions, egg, 1 teaspoon salt and cayenne pepper, if using.
• Spoon the filling into the bell pepper halves, dividing it evenly. Place the remaining prosciutto on top of the filling and drizzle with olive oil. Arrange the filled peppers in a single layer in a 13-by-9-inch glass baking dish or small roasting pan. Pour the broth around the peppers. Bake until the peppers are tender, 40 to 45 minutes.
• Transfer to a platter and serve.

ALL PURPOSE CRAB STUFFING

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
• For stuffed shrimp -- butterfly them and put one tbsp of mixture on top and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Use the biggest shrimp you can find!
• For mussels -- place one tbsp of mixture on top of mussels and bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes. (I buy a two pound frozen bag of New Zealand Mussels on the half shell from Fiesta Market. Just thaw -- top with some stuffing mixture and bake. Delicious!).
• Makes enough for generously stuffing 20 large shrimp or 2 lbs of mussels on the half shell.
• Sometimes I will drizzle melted butter over each stuffed mussel or shrimp but do so very very lightly. I will melt butter in the micro and then using a 1/8 tsp measuring spoon pour on each shrimp/mussel. Too much butter and it will become too rich.
• Lightly sprinkle paprika over all.
• I love this.

NAYARIT CRAB STUFFED CHILES

Steps:

• STUFFED CHILES:.
• Make slit in 1 side of each roasted chili.
• Carefully devein & de-seed without tearing chiles. Soak chiles in a bowl of water with few drops vinegar and set aside.
• Heat butter and 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil in saucepan. Add onion and cook until tender. Add crab meat and a tablespoon of the chives and cook 1 minute.
• Heat remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil in skillet. Add mango and saute until softened, about 2 - 3 minutes. Add crab mixture and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Let Cool.
• Drain chiles and stuff each one with about 1/4 cup of the filling.
• VINAIGRETTE:.
• Puree mangos in a food processor or blender. Place in saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring, until thickened, 5 - 7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Blend puree, vinegar, stock, mango nectar, garlic and salt and pepper to taste in food processor or blender until smooth. Gradually add olive oil, blending until emulsified. Check seasoning and add sugar if needed. Chill.
• Place large spoonful of vinaigrette on 6 chilled salad plates. Top with Stuffed Chile. Bathe chiles with additional vinaigrette. Sprinkle remaining 1 tablespoon chopped chives over all and garnish with thyme sprig. Dust with freshly ground pepper.

STUFFED CRAB

Steps:

• In a skillet over low heat melt the butter, add the onion, yellow pepper, fennel, and garlic.
• Season with salt and pepper. Cook slowly for about 6 minutes until all are tender, transfer mixture to a bowl, add bread crumbs, and allow to cool.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• When cooled add crab meat, mayonnaise, lemon zest, lemon juice, tarragon, parsley, scallions, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Mix the ingredients well and stuff the shells. Bake for 25 minutes until warmed through.
• Note: the crabs should be poached in a court boullion made with 2 quarts water, 1 chopped carrot, 1 chopped yellow onion, and 1 chopped celery stalk boiled with 1/2 teaspoon each black peppercorns and coriander seeds. Bring the mixture to a boil and after 10 minutes, add 1 lemon, thinly sliced. Let boil for 10 more minutes, salt the water, and poach the crabs.