Sweet crabmeat in a rich and creamy sauce, served with a refreshing salad. This is ideal for a summer lunch.
25g/1oz butter
1 shallot, peeled, finely chopped
3 tbsp brandy
200ml/7fl oz fish stock
75ml/3fl oz double cream
½ tsp English mustard
½ tsp cayenne pepper
½ lemon, juice only
4 cooked brown crabs, meat picked, shell reserved
25g/1oz parmesan cheese, grated
25g/1oz fresh breadcrumbs
150ml/5fl oz rice wine vinegar
50g/2oz caster sugar, plus extra, to taste
1 tsp salt
2 banana shallots, finely sliced
2 heads Little Gem lettuce, leaves separated
4 tbsp celery leaves
4 tbsp flatleaf parsley leaves
2 Cox's Orange Pippin apple, cored, thinly sliced
1 tbsp English mustard
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
6 tbsp olive oil
For the baked crab, preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
Heat a frying pan until medium hot, add the butter and shallots and fry until softened.
Deglaze the pan with the brandy, then add the stock and cook until reduced slightly.
Add the double cream and return to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes, or until just thickened.
Add the mustard, cayenne and lemon juice and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Stir the picked crab meat into the sauce.
Mix the parmesan and breadcrumbs together in a bowl.
Divide the crab mixture among the 4 crab shells and top with the cheesy breadcrumbs. Place onto a baking tray and bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes, or until golden-brown and bubbling.
For the salad, heat the rice wine vinegar, sugar and salt in a saucepan until just simmering. Pour this mixture over the sliced shallot, mix until well combined and leave to marinate for at least 5 minutes (or up to 24 hours).
Place the lettuce, celery and parsley leaves and apple into a bowl and mix together.
Whisk the English mustard, white wine vinegar and olive oil together in a bowl, then season with salt, freshly ground black pepper and a touch of sugar.
Drain the shallot slices, toss with the salad then dress with the dressing.
To serve, place the baked crab onto serving plates and pile the salad alongside.
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