Spicy Potted Crab Food

HEALTHY PASTA WITH SPICY CRAB

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook as the label directs until al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta.
• Meanwhile, heat the canola oil in a large high-sided saute pan over medium heat. Add the chiles and garlic and cook until soft and the garlic is pale golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and cook until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add the crab and cook until just heated through, about 1 minute.
• Add the pasta and some of the cooking water to the pan and cook for another minute. Stir in the parsley, dill, mint and lemon zest. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

POTTED CRAB

Steps:

• Tip the crabmeat into a bowl and mix with the mayonnaise, shallot, chives, orange zest and some seasoning. Spoon the mixture into a shallow serving dish. Smooth the top over, then pop in the fridge to chill.
• Gently melt the butter and smoked paprika together. Leave the butter to cool a little, but don't let it solidify. Carefully pour the clear butter fat over the crab, leaving the milky butter residue still in the saucepan. Return to the fridge for 20-25 mins or up to a day to firm the butter up. Serve with some grilled sourdough for spreading everything over.

SPICED POTTED CRAB

Steps:

• Tip the crab into a bowl and check for any pieces of shell. Melt 100g of the butter and add half the chilli, the lemon juice, nutmeg and salt. Add to the crab and mix well. Pack into a bowl or jar, pressing down lightly.
• Melt the remaining butter. When it is foaming, remove from the heat. When the foam has died down, carefully skim off any scum that is on the surface with a teaspoon, then pour the clear butter over the crab, leaving behind any milky sediment. Scatter over the remaining chilli and put a bay leaf in the centre.
• Leave to set in the fridge for about 1 hr. Serve on a board with the prawns and radishes, with toasted rustic bread.

BLUE CRABS WITH SPICY BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine the beer and vinegar with 1 cup of water in a very large pot. Add a steamer insert and bring the liquid to a boil over high heat. Add the crabs and 1/4 cup of the Old Bay and cook, covered, until the crabs are bright red, 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the size. Transfer the crabs to a large platter and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup Old Bay.
• Serve the hot crabs with the Spicy Butter and lemon wedges on the side.
• Make the butter while the crabs cook: combine the butter, Old Bay, cayenne and garlic in a small saucepan over medium heat. Melt the butter, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface. Pour the melted butter into a small ramekin, leaving the milk solids in the saucepan.

POTTED CRAB

Steps:

• Remove crabmeat from shell, discarding cartilage, then finely chop all of crabmeat and transfer to a bowl. Melt butter in a 10-inch heavy skillet over low heat and stir in remaining ingredients (except crabmeat). Cool 3 minutes, then stir in crabmeat.
• Transfer mixture to dish and tamp down. Cover surface with wax paper, then cover dish with plastic wrap and chill at least 2 hours. Bring to room temperature before serving.

SPICY CRAB BOIL

Steps:

• In a very large pot combine beer and lemon with 3 cups water. In a coffee grinder or spice mill, grind spices to a coarse powder; add to pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, reduce heat to medium and simmer vigorously, 10 minutes. Add crabs and cover pot tightly. Bring to a boil and simmer 8 minutes. Serve on lots of newspapers with a small hammer, picks and lemon.;

SPICY CRAB BOIL FOR BLUE CRABS

Steps:

• To make the spice mix, grind the mustard, celery, cumin, dill seeds, and bay leaves in an electric spice grinder or a clean coffee grinder. Place the freshly ground spices in a large bowl and mix in the paprika, chile powder, red chile flakes, and thyme. Add the fresh herb sprigs to the bowl.
• Put some water and a steamer insert in the bottom of a very large pot. Add the crabs, sprinkling the spice mix and the herb sprigs between the crabs as you layer them in the pot. Put the lid on, bring the water to a boil, and steam until the crabs are cooked, about 20 minutes. The crabs should be a bright red. Remove the crabs from the pot, serve hot, and pass around crab crackers or hammers.

SPICY CRAB DIP

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the first 8 ingredients. Cover and process until smooth. Transfer to a large microwave-safe bowl. Stir in crab; mix well. , Cover and microwave on high until bubbly, 2-3 minutes. Serve warm with crackers or vegetables.

POTTED CRAB

Steps:

• Remove crab meat from shell, discarding cartilage, then finely chop all of crabmeat and transfer to a bowl. Melt butter in a 10-inch heavy skillet over low heat and stir in remaining ingredients (except crabmeat). Cool 3 minutes, then stir in crabmeat.
• Transfer mixture to 4 to 6 individual serving ramekins and tamp down. Cover the surface of each ramekin with a circle of wax paper, then cover the dishes with plastic wrap and chill at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
• Bring to room temperature before serving.