Southern Crab Hash Food

CRAB HASH WITH OLD BAY & BASIL

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil over low heat in a 12-inch non-stick skillet (so potatoes don't stick). While skillet heats, prepare onion and crab as directed above. A few minutes before cooking, increase heat to medium-high. When oil starts to send up wisps of smoke, add onion and crab; cook, stirring often, until golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Meanwhile, dice potatoes and toss with remaining oil. Transfer crab mixture to a bowl and reserve.
• Add potatoes to empty skillet; cook, stirring only occasionally so they form a golden-brown crust, about 10 minutes. As potatoes cook, mix ketchup, mustard, Old Bay™ Seasoning, fresh basil and 2 tablespoons of water. (Recipe can be prepared to this point up to 2 hours ahead. Spread hot potatoes on a large lipped cookie sheet; cover when cool. Return skillet to medium-high; add potatoes and re-crisp.)
• Return reserved crab mixture to skillet; stir in ketchup mixture, then season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until hash has nicely browned, about 5 minutes longer.

CRAB STUFFED HASH BROWNS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Thaw the frozen hash browns, if you have to pop them in the microwave.
• Dice the bacon and fry it up fairly crisp.
• While the bacon is frying and the potatoes are thawing combine all of the stuffing ingredients in a medium bowl.
• Mix together in a large bowl: 1/4 cup of the melted butter, mushroom soup, sour cream, cream cheese, bacon and shredded cheese.
• Fold in the thawed hash browns.
• Lightly grease a large casserole dish. Mine is a 3 quart.
• Spread 1/2 of the potato mixture in the bottom of the casserole.
• Layer the stuffing on top of the potatoes leaving a narrow gap around the edges.
• Top that with the rest of the potatoes.
• Mix the rest of the melted butter with the bread crumbs and sprinkle on top of the potatoes.
• Bake for 1 hour, top should be golden brown.
• Let rest for a few minutes when you take it out before you serve.

CRAB HASH

Steps:

• Remove any cartilage and shell from the crab meat.
• Cut the meat into chunks.
• Cover and refrigerate.
• Boil the potatoes in lightly salted water until thoroughly cooked, about 30 minutes.
• Drain and let cool.
• Cut the potatoes, with their skins, into ½-inch dice.
• Place in a mixing bowl.
• Cook the bacon in an 8- or 9-inch sauté pan over medium heat until browned and crisp.
• Remove the pan from the heat and, using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon from the pan, leaving the fat in the pan.
• Add the bacon to the potatoes.
• Return the sauté pan to the heat and add the onion and pepper.
• Turn up the heat and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until browned.
• Add the thyme and paprika, mix well and remove from the heat.
• Add the onion and pepper (including the fat) to the potatoes.
• Mix in the crab meat and season with salt and pepper.
• Mix very well, mashing the potato a bit so that the mixture sticks together.
• Divide the mixture into four 8-ounce portions and shape into 5-inch cakes.
• Refrigerate until ready to cook.
• Fill a deep pan with water for poaching the eggs.
• Lightly salt the water and add 1 tablespoon white vinegar for each cup of water.
• Bring to a boil, then lower the heat so that it barely simmers.
• Heat the oil in a well-seasoned 12- to 14-inch skillet over medium high heat.
• Cook the hash"cakes" (they should sizzle when you add them to the pan) for about 5 minutes until the sides are crisp and brown.
• Using a spatula, turn the cakes over.
• If they break when turning, don't worry; just use the spatula to reshape them in the pan.
• Meanwhile, break the eggs one at a time into a small bowl and slide each into the poaching liquid.
• Do this quickly so that all the eggs cook in about the same amount of time.
• It will take only 2 minutes for a loose poached egg: whites barely set and yolks runny.
• Center each hash cake on a medium plate and, using a slotted spoon, gently place a poached egg on top.
• Grind a bit of pepper over each egg and sprinkle the scallions over the entire dish.
• Serve at once.