BAKED CRAB WITH BROWN CRAB BUTTER

Baked crab with brown crab butter image

Provided by Rob Beck

Time 50m

Number Of Ingredients 16

20 g salted butter
1/2 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 tsp english mustard
1/2 tsp horseradish sauce
2 tsp lemon juice
85 ml double cream
220 g white crab meat (fresh is best)
45 g grated mild cheese
30 g golden breadcrumbs
1 1/2 tsp fresh pasley, finely choppped
Good pinch salt & pepper
for the crab butter
150 g brown crab meat
1/2 tsp horseradish sauce
75 - 100 ml double cream
4 slice dutch toast / toasted rye bread

Steps:

1. Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas mark 4. 2. Melt the butter in a pan over a medium heat and sauté the onion until soft but not coloured. Add the mustard, horseradish and lemon juice, and then stir in the cream. 3. Once the sauce is combined, stir in the white crab meat. 4. Spoon the crab mixture into the cleaned shells, place on a baking sheet and bake for 8 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the cheese, breadcrumbs and parsley in a bowl with a little salt and pepper. Set aside. 5. To make the crab butter, place the brown crab meat into a food processor with the horseradish cream and blitz slowly adding the cream until a mayonnaise consistency is reached. 6. When the crab is cooked, remove from the oven and cover the crab with the breadcrumb mixture and place under a hot grill for 2-3 minutes, or until golden. 7. Serve with hot granary toast and a small pot of crab butter on the side.
2. NB: If you can't get a whole fresh crab you can easily buy fresh white crab meat and brown crab meat from the supermarket and then use large ramekins or small ovenproof gratin dishes instead. It would work just as well.