West Indian Curried Crab And Lobster Cakes Recipes

WEST INDIAN LAMB CURRY

Steps:

• Pat lamb dry with paper towels and place in a large bowl. In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon curry powder, the salt, the ground ginger and the black pepper. Add spice mix to large bowl and toss with lamb.
• Combine onion, scallion, garlic, fresh ginger, allspice, thyme leaves and 2 tablespoons oil in a blender; purée until smooth. Scrape mixture over lamb and toss to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Stir in 2 teaspoons curry powder and heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding the pot, brown the meat on all sides. Drizzle in additional oil, if needed, to prevent meat from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Transfer browned meat to a plate as it browns.
• Once all the meat has been browned, return it to the pot, along with any juices on the plate. Add enough water to just cover meat. Bring liquid to a simmer, covered, then uncover the pot and cook gently for 45 minutes.
• Stir potato, carrot and pepper into pot. Simmer until vegetables are fork tender and meat is cooked through, about 30 to 45 minutes longer.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer meat and vegetables to a bowl. Simmer cooking liquid until it has reduced and thickened to a saucy consistency (to taste), about 15 minutes. Taste sauce and add more salt if needed. Pour sauce over meat. Serve over rice, topped with a squeeze of lime, a dollop of mango chutney or pickle and fresh cilantro.

CURRIED CRAB WITH COCONUT AND CHILI

Steps:

• Place the crab in the freezer for 2 hours or until it stops moving. Remove the legs and crack them with a rolling pin. Remove the top of the shell and clean out the insides with your fingers. Chop the crab and top shells in half.
• Heat a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the coriander seeds, cumin seeds and peppercorns and stir constantly until the seeds become toasted and fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Cool completely.
• To make the paste, grind the coriander seeds, cumin seeds and peppercorns with a pinch of salt using a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder. Transfer the spice mixture to a food processor and add the vinegar, coconut, ginger, garlic, chile and onions and blend to form a paste.
• Heat the oil in a heavy, large, wide pot over low heat. Add the paste and saute until fragrant and some of the juices evaporate, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the tomato, curry leaves, turmeric, chili powder and a pinch of salt and cook until the tomato pieces are tender and melting into the sauce, 5 minutes. Add the crab and 4 1/2 ounces water, increase the heat to medium and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer or until the crab pieces are cooked through, 10 minutes. Mix in the coconut milk and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
• Divide the crab pieces and sauce among shallow wide soup plates and serve immediately.

CREOLE CRAB AND CRAWFISH CAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix all the above ingredients except for the saltines and bread crumbs. Blend in the coarsely broken saltine crackers and bread. Let rest in refrigerator for 1 hour. Form 3-ounce balls or patties and brown both sides in a lightly oiled, heavy skillet.
• Combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour to blend flavors. Served chilled.
• Yield: 1 3/4 cups of sauce

BLUSHING MAINE LOBSTER CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Oil a cookie sheet with olive oil. In a medium bowl, lightly beat eggs with a wire whisk. Whisk in the ketchup, mayonnaise, butter, seasoned salt, and paprika. Stir in the pimentos and chives. Add lobster meat and 1/2 cup of the crushed butter crackers. Stir gently to combine. Form the mixture into 8 cakes, using a 1/3-cup measure for each. Dredge both sides of the cakes in the remaining 1/2 cup of cracker crumbs and place on oiled cookie sheet. Flatten slightly to make a 3-inch cake. Bake for 8 minutes, carefully turn each cake, and continue baking for another 8 minutes.
• Drizzle Rosey Sauce over cakes or serve on the side.
• Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and stir until smooth.

CURRIED CRAB

Steps:

• In bowl put crabmeat, onions, scallions, pepper and jicama. Toss to combine. In another bowl, whisk together curry oil, mayonnaise, and creme fraiche. Add curry mixture to crab mixture, season with salt and black pepper.;
• In skillet heat oil and curry powder slowly, stirring constantly until curry is fragrant with burning. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Let curry settle overnight then pour off oil. Store in refrigerator.
• Yield: about 1 cup

LOBSTER AND CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl combine all bread crumb mixture ingredients.
• Poach lobster in water with lemon, basil and sea salt. (Rule of thumb is 5 minutes per pound.) Remove lobster from water and chill in ice water. Remove meat and shell and dice meat. Lightly pick through crabmeat.
• Add crab and lobster to mixture and gently fold mixture until combines. Lightly press mixture down in bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Form the crab cakes in to 3-ounce portions about a silver dollar wide and 1 1/2 inches tall.
• To a large saute pan, add enough light olive oil to fill about 1/2 inch high. Bring to 350 degrees F and add crab cakes. Cook until golden brown on both sides.

WEST INDIAN SPICY BEEF CURRY

Steps:

• Place coriander, anise or fennel, black mustard seeds, cumin seeds and Jamaican allspice in a dry skillet over medium heat. Stir seeds together until mixture smells fragrant. Remove from heat and grind in a spice grinder. Stir in turmeric and cinnamon.
• Dredge meat with 1 tbsp (15 mL) curry mixture, reserving remainder. Season with salt.
• Heat oil in a sauté pan or deep skillet over high heat. Add meat in batches and sear until well browned on all sides, about 4 minutes. Remove from skillet and reserve. The meat should be rare.
• Add more oil to skillet, if needed, reduce heat to medium and add onion, red and yellow peppers, sweet potato and 1 tbsp (15 mL) spice mixture (there may be some left over). Sauté until onions are softened. Add tomatoes and stock. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until sauce is thickened and sweet potato is cooked. Stir in lime juice.
• When ready to serve, reheat sauce and add meat. Simmer together for 5 to 8 minutes or until meat is hot and a little more cooked. Sprinkle with coriander just before serving.

WEST INDIAN CURRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken, onions, and garlic until the chicken has browned; about 5 minutes. Stir in potatoes, salt, and curry powder; add enough water to cover the chicken halfway. Cover, and simmer until tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Season to taste with hot pepper sauce.