STEAMED EGG CUSTARD WITH BLUE CRAB AND FLOWERING CHIVES

Steamed Egg Custard with Blue Crab and Flowering Chives image

Provided by Andrea Reusing

Yield Makes 8 (first course) servings

Number Of Ingredients 24

For dashi:
3 large dried Chinese black mushrooms
2 1/3 cups water
1 (4-inch) piece kombu (dried kelp)
2 tablespoons bonito flakes
For custard:
6 large eggs
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoons Shaoxing wine
1 1/2 teaspoons dry Oloroso Sherry
1 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
For crab topping:
18 flowering Chinese chives, tough bottoms discarded
1/2 pound jumbo lump crabmeat, picked over
1/2 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons Shaoxing wine
1 tablespoon dry Oloroso Sherry
Pinch of white pepper
Equipment: 8 (4- to 5-ounce) bowls or ramekins

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.