Crab Caesar Croquettes
Makes approximately 12
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 green onions, chopped (optional)
- ½ tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp dashi powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 cup crab meat, shredded
- 4 tbsp butter
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 cup cream
- 1 ½ cup panko
- 2 eggs
- â…› cup flour for dusting
DIRECTIONS:
- In a pan, add 2 tbsp butter, and turn the heat to medium high. Once the butter has melted, add in the onion. Saute onion for 4-5 minutes or until soft and translucent.
- Next, add in the rest of the butter, and once melted, add in ¼ cup flour. Mix to ensure all the flour has soaked up the butter.
- Slowly pour in the cream, and keep whisking. It will be slightly lumpy at first, but keep mixing and stirring till it becomes a thick cream mixture; this process should take around 1-2 minutes.
- Season with dashi powder, paprika, and black pepper. Then add in shredded crab meat and chopped green onion. Mix everything well, taste for seasoning.
- Pour the creamy crab mixture into a container, cover it, and let it rest in the fridge for at least 3 hours or overnight. The longer you let it rest, the easier it will be to work with.
- Next day, prepare your coating station with one plate of beaten eggs, one plate of flour for dusting, and one plate of panko. Using a spoon, form the croquette into a small ball; 2-3 tbsp worth is a good amount. Form into a ball, then coat with flour, egg, and panko. Make sure to pack the panko in tightly with your hands.
- Add oil into a pan around 2 inches high, you want to croquette to be fully immersed into the water. Turn the heat up to medium-high, and once the oil reaches 350ºF, gently add in the croquette. Deep fry for 4-5 minutes or until crispy and golden brown. Make sure not to overcrowd the pan.
CAESAR DRESSING INGREDIENTS:
- 1 egg, soft boiled
- 1 tbsp of white wine vinegar
- 1 ½ tbsp of Dijon mustard
- 1 anchovy or 1 tsp paste
- 2 fl oz of olive oil
- 3 oz of Parmesan, finely grated
- Worcestershire sauce, to taste
- Lemon juice
CAESAR DRESSING DIRECTIONS:
- To make the Caesar dressing, blend the egg, vinegar and the mustard until smooth. Add the anchovy, then slowly add the olive oil in a steady stream while whisking, as if you were making a mayonnaise.
- Once emulsified add the finely grated Parmesan, Worcestershire sauce and adjust the consistency with a touch of warm water and lemon juice. The dressing should be a little loose.
HERB OIL INGREDIENTS:
- 2 cups lightly packed soft herbs (about 1 ½ oz with stems): parsley, cilantro, basil, dill, lovage, chives, mint, tarragon)
- ½ to ¾ cup good olive oil (or neutral oil, like sunflower)
- Salt, for the water
HERB OIL DIRECTIONS:
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and prepare an ice bath.
- Once the water is boiling, add the herbs and cook for about 15 seconds; just until the herbs/stems are bright green.
- Quickly transfer to the ice bath and let sit for 5 minutes to completely cool. Transfer the herbs to a dry tea towel and wrap/dry well.
- Transfer the herbs to a high-speed blender and add the oil. Puree until as smooth as possible.
- Line a sieve with cheesecloth (layered three times) or a coffee filter. Pour the oil into the sieve and let sit for a few hours, stirring occasionally. Do not press the oil through.
- Once done, transfer to a bottle and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.