Steamed Egg Custard With Blue Crab And Flowering Chives Food

CHINESE STEAMED EGG

Steps:

• First you need to determine how much water or stock you will need. As eggs differ in size, the amount will depend on the volume of the eggs that you use for this recipe. I can give you a guide, but if you want perfect Chinese Steamed Eggs, it's best if you measured your eggs. In a medium bowl, lightly beat the eggs together with a fork. Measure out and take note of the volume of the eggs (cups or milliliters). If you have a 2-cup measuring cup, you can beat the eggs directly into the cup to get a measurement. My four eggs totaled 200 milliliters (just under 1 cup).
• The amount of water or stock you will want is between 1 1/2 to 2 times the volume of the eggs. So if you have 200 milliliters of egg, you could use between 300 - 400 milliliters of water, depending on your preference. 300 milliliters of water or stock will give you a firmer texture than if you were to use 400 milliliters. For reference, in the photos, I used 300 milliliters of water.
• Slowly mix the water in with the eggs. Mix in salt if using.
• Carefully pour the eggs through a fine mesh strainer and evenly divide into two bowls. The strainer will catch any larger pieces of the egg, as well as break apart much of the bubbles or foam that may have formed. If you have the time, allow the egg to sit for a few minutes so any remaining bubbles on the surface pop.
• Cover the eggs with aluminum foil. This is to prevent any water droplets from the steamer from falling directly onto the eggs, making the surface of the steamed eggs rough.
• Gently place the bowls onto a prepared steamer. Steam over low heat until the eggs are set, about 10-14 minutes, depending on the shape and depth of your bowls. For reference, in the photos, the eggs were steamed for 12 minutes.
• Carefully remove from steamer and garnish with desired toppings. Serve warm.

STEAMED EGG CUSTARD

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine shrimp, ham, salt, white pepper and mix well. Combine eggs and butter in another bowl. Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
• Pour shrimp mixture and egg mixture into a heatproof glass pie dish and cover with another heatproof glass pie dish. Prepare a wok for steaming (wok should have 2 inches of simmering water in it) and place the pie dish in the wok, cover and steam over a medium heat for 15 minutes.
• Spoon dressing on top and serve.

STEAMED EGG CUSTARD WITH BLUE CRAB AND FLOWERING CHIVES

Steps:

• Make dashi:
• Simmer mushrooms in water in a small saucepan 5 minutes, then let steep off heat 10 minutes. Add kombu and return just to a simmer. Turn off heat and add bonito flakes, then let steep 10 minutes. Strain stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl or glass measure, discarding solids. Cool dashi to room temperature.
• Make custard:
• Beat eggs and 1 1/2 cups cooled dashi in a medium bowl, then whisk in remaining custard ingredients.
• Divide among bowls. Cover each tightly with foil and arrange in a steamer rack. Steam, covered, over simmering water until just barely set in center, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove pot from heat and let stand, covered, 2 to 3 minutes. (Custard will continue to set.)
• Prepare crab topping while custard steams:
• Blanch chives in a medium pot of boiling salted water 30 seconds, then transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking. Pat chives dry. Cut into 3/4-inch pieces and gently combine with crab and remaining ingredients.
• Top warm custards with crab mixture.

STEAMED CORN CUSTARDS WITH CRAB

Steps:

• Make custard:
• Cook corn in a 1-quart saucepan of boiling salted water until very tender, 3 to 5 minutes, and drain in a sieve.
• Purée milk and hot corn in a blender until almost smooth, then force through a very fine sieve into a bowl, discarding solids. Whisk in egg and salt and divide custard among ramekins.
• Steam custards in a steamer set 1 inch above simmering water, covered with lid, until centers are set and a thin knife inserted into center of 1 custard comes out clean, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove ramekins from steamer with tongs and cool custards slightly.
• Make crab topping while custards cool:
• Coarsely chop 1/4 cup crabmeat and reserve remainder for another use. Heat butter in a small heavy skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides, then cook crab, stirring constantly, until heated through, about 2 minutes. Stir in chives.
• Serve custards topped with crab.