Prosciutto Wrapped Soft Shell Crab Cigars With Shaved Radish And Arugula Salad Food

PROSCIUTTO WITH PEARS AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• Place arugula in bowl. Quarter the pear lengthwise and remove the core. Cut into quarters and then in half again. Dress the pear with the juice of 1/2 lemon, thyme leaves, olive oil, salt and pepper. Place a few leaves of dressed greens on each slice of prosciutto with a slice of pear and roll up into a tight bundle. Cut each bundle in half, to make 16 pieces.

GRILLED PROSCIUTTO WRAPPED SHRIMP AND ARUGULA SALAD WITH PICKLED ONIONS, AND BALSAMIC REDUCTION

Steps:

• To prep the shrimp: Whisk together the wine, garlic, red pepper, salt and lemon juice. Slowly pour in the olive oil. Add the shrimp and toss to coat. Let stand at room temperature for about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pickle the onions. Combine in a medium sauce pot, red wine vinegar, sugar, red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper and water. Bring to a boil and pour over the onions. Let cool and then refrigerate.
• In another small saucepan, place the 1 cup of balsamic over medium heat and reduce until the vinegar becomes syrupy, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit at room temperature until ready to use. May need to reheat for use.
• Have the grill preheated to medium-high.
• Drain shrimp and reserve the marinade. Wrap 1 prosciutto strip around each shrimp and place 2 shrimp on each skewer, leaving a little room between each shrimp. Brush each of the skewers with some of the reserved marinade and place on the grill. Grill the shrimp until the prosciutto is crispy and the shrimp turn opaque and are cooked through, about 3 minutes per side.
• In a large bowl, dress the arugula and the pickled onions with remaining balsamic, a splash of olive oil, salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving dish and top with the shrimp skewers. Drizzle the balsamic reduction over the top.

ARUGULA-PROSCIUTTO PIZZA

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven. Place a pizza stone or upside-down baking sheet on the rack and preheat to 450 ̊ F. Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch round. Transfer to a cornmeal-dusted pizza peel or another upside-down baking sheet; slide the dough onto the hot stone or baking sheet. Bake 8 minutes. Meanwhile, combine 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small bowl with the garlic, rosemary, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Remove the crust from the oven, brush with the olive oil mixture and top with the ricotta and mozzarella. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese is golden and bubbly, about 6 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss the arugula and shallot in a large bowl with the lemon juice, remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Top the pizza with the arugula salad, prosciutto and shaved Parmesan.

SHAVED SALAD WITH PROSCIUTTO BITS

Steps:

• For the vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar and salt. The salt crystals should dissolve. Whisk in the mustard, oregano, and black pepper. Slowly whisk in the olive oil to form a smooth emulsion. Crumble in the blue cheese, if using. Pour the vinaigrette into a serving bowl to be passed at the table with a spoon. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• For the salad: Set out 8 salad bowls, preferably clear glass so the guests can see the layers of vegetables. For each bowl, put down a layer of arugula and then a layer of fennel. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and sprinkle 1 tablespoon Parmesan and 1 tablespoon Prosciutto Bits over the fennel. Next, put down a layer of zucchini and a layer of red cabbage. Once again, season with salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle with Parmesan and Prosciutto Bits. Put down a layer of carrots over the top and finish with a small sprinkling of Parmesan and Prosciutto Bits.
• Serve the salads at room temperature. Pass the vinaigrette at the table. Allow guests to dress their own salads and mix up the layers.

SAUTEED SOFT-SHELL CRABS WITH GARLIC AND BUTTER

Steps:

• Season crabs with salt and pepper and dredge in the flour, shaking off excess. Set aside.
• In a large skillet over medium high heat, add the oil and saute the crabs until soft, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove the crabs and set aside. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Then add the capers and white wine. Cook until wine has reduced to about 1/2. Swirl in the butter and the chopped chives. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer crabs to a plate, spoon sauce over the crabs and garnish with Essence.
• 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.

GRILLED PROSCIUTTO WRAPPED VEAL

Steps:

• Marinade.
• Combine marinade ingredients in blender, pour in oil as blending and puree until smooth. In a large sealable bag, add marinade and veal. Refrigerate 12-24 hours.
• Veal.
• Remove veal from marinade, lay flat and pat dry. Place the veal on a large piece of plastic wrap, cover with another piece of plastic wrap. Lightly tenderize the veal.
• On a large piece of plastic wrap place slices of proscuitto. Place the unwrapped piece of veal in centre of proscuitto, drizzle with oil and season with pepper. While lifting the plastic wrap gently, encase the veal. Wrap again tightly with more plastic and let it set up in the fridge for 15 minutes.
• Bring veal to room temperature before grilling. Remove the plastic wrap.
• Place a drip pan under the grill rack and add rosemary and white wine. Prepare grill for indirect heat by heating only one side of the grill to high and close lid.
• Preheat grill to 350ºF/175ºC.
• Place veal on the grill side with no direct heat and grill for one hour, until the internal temperature reads 150ºF on a meat thermometer. Remove from grill and cover with foil. Let rest for 15 minutes before slicing.

PROSCIUTTO-WRAPPED SOFT-SHELL CRAB CIGARS WITH SHAVED RADISH AND ARUGULA SALAD

Steps:

• Season the crabs lightly with salt and pepper on both sides. Lay out the slices of prosciutto with the short end facing you. Place a crab on each of the short ends and roll up, tucking in the claws as you go.
• In a large sauté pan over high heat, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the wrapped crabs and sear for about 2 minutes per side, until the prosciutto is crispy and the crabs are cooked through.
• Dress the radishes and arugula leaves with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and the lemon juice, seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.
• Divide the salad among 4 plates, mounding it slightly. Place a cooked, wrapped crab on top of each. Drizzle with olive oil and serve.