LIME-AND-COCONUT-MARINATED PEEKYTOE “CRAB CAKES” WITH TOMATO CHUTNEY

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image



LIME-AND-COCONUT-MARINATED PEEKYTOE “CRAB CAKES” WITH TOMATO CHUTNEY image

Categories     Shellfish     Appetizer

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 28

For the tomato chutney:
2 tsp. black peppercorns
1 tsp. coriander seeds
1 tsp. yellow mustard seeds
4 whole cloves
1 bay leaf
2 Tbs. canola oil
1/2 cup small-diced yellow onion
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. minced fresh ginger
3 cups peeled, seeded, and diced fresh tomatoes
1 Tbs. seeded, minced jalapeño
1 Tbs. granulated sugar
Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the basil oil:
2 cups loosely packed fresh basil
1/2 cup canola oil
For the crab:
1 lb. peekytoe crabmeat (or substitute jumbo lump or Dungeness)
6 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1/4 cup very loosely packed fresh basil, thinly sliced
3 Tbs. minced shallot
3 Tbs. coconut milk
3/4 tsp. Espelette pepper (optional)
Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the garnish:
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes, toasted
6 small fresh basil tops

Steps:

  • Make the chutney: Cut a small square of cheesecloth and put the peppercorns, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, cloves, and bay leaf in the middle of the cloth. Gather the edges into a pouch and secure with twine. Heat the oil in a 4-quart heavy-duty non-reactive saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft but not browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium low and add the tomatoes, jalapeño, sugar, and the spice bundle. Cook, stirring frequently, until very thick and most of the liquid has evaporated, 25 to 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, discard the spice bundle, and let cool. Make the basil oil: Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Prepare an ice bath by filling a medium bowl with several inches of ice water. Blanch the basil in the boiling water for 10 seconds. Drain and immediately plunge into the ice bath to cool. Drain again and gently squeeze out any water. Put the basil and the oil in a blender and process until puréed, about 2 minutes. Line a fine sieve with cheesecloth and strain the oil into a small bowl, using a spoon or small spatula to push the oil through the cheesecloth. Discard the cheesecloth and set the oil aside. Marinate the crab: Pick over the crab to remove any cartilage or shells. Work with the crab gently, being careful not to break up the meat. Put the crab in a medium bowl and add the lime juice, basil, shallot, coconut milk, Espelette pepper (if using), a pinch of salt, and a few grinds of pepper. Gently toss to coat and let marinate for about 10 minutes at room temperature. Put the crab in a fine sieve over a medium bowl and drain for at least 5 minutes. finish above

There are no comments yet!