Broiled Crab Backs With Fiery Pepper Sauce

By á-170456

Ingredients

• FOR THE SAUCE:
• 1 small yellow onion minced
• 3 green onions minced
• 1/4 cup minced red bell pepper
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 scotch bonnet or habanero seeded, minced (or 1 tbspn prepared scotch bonnet pepper sauce)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• FOR THE CRABS:
• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 garlic clove crushed
• 1/4 cup finely-chopped celery
• 1 cup finely-chopped yellow onion
• 1 bunch parsley finely chopped
• 3 green onions minced
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/2 pound lump crabmeat picked over for cartilage and shells
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• Salt to taste
• OPTIONAL:
• 6 cleaned crab backs (shells) for stuffing (or ramekins)

Details

Servings 6

Preparation

Step 1

In a heatproof bowl, combine the onions, scallions, bell peppers, garlic, peppers, salt, and thyme. In a small non-reactive saucepan combine water and vinegar and bring to a boil. Pour over the onion mixture in the bowl and stir. Allow to cool. Stir in the lime juice and vegetable oil. (The sauce can be prepared up to this point 2 days in advance, tightly covered, and refrigerated.)

Before serving, bring to room temperature and stir in the chopped cilantro. Serve drizzled over the stuffed crabmeat mixture.

Preheat the broiler.

In a skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the soy sauce, garlic, celery, onion, parsley, scallions, and thyme, and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes, until vegetables are begin to soften.

Add the lime juice and cook for 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste, crushed red pepper, crabmeat, and water and stir to mix well. Add 3 tablespoons of the bread crumbs and salt, and stir to combine.

Remove from the heat and with a spoon divide the crab mixture evenly among the 6 crab shells. Sprinkle lightly with the remaining tablespoon of bread crumbs and broil until golden brown on top, about 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with the sauce spooned over the top.

This recipe yields 6 appetizer portions.