CRAB RAREBIT WITH FRIES AND A LITTLE GEM SALAD
CRAB RAREBIT WITH FRIES AND A LITTLE GEM SALAD
CRAB RAREBIT WITH FRIES AND A LITTLE GEM SALAD

Ingredients
  • 2 small whole crabs
  • cooked
  • 35g/13oz Montgomery cheddar cheese
  • grated
  • 3 tbsp milk
  • 25g/1oz breadcrumbs
  • 25g/1oz flour
  • dash of Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 free-range egg
  • 1 free-range egg yolk
  • ½ tsp English mustard powder
  • 25g/1oz butter
  • melted
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • vegetable oil
  • for deep frying
  • 2 large chipping potatoes
  • peeled and cut into fries
  • 2 Little Gem lettuces
  • leaves only
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ lemon
  • juice only
Directions
  • Open the crabs
  • remove all the white and brown meat and place in a bowl. Feel for any small pieces of broken shell and remove from the meat. Wash the main shells of the crabs thoroughly and pat dry using kitchen paper.
  • Use a fork to gently mash together the brown and white crabmeat. Season with salt and pepper and spoon the crabmeat back into the clean shells.
  • To make the rarebit sauce
  • place the cheese and milk into a small saucepan and heat
  • stirring occasionally to prevent it catching
  • until the cheese is melted. Add the breadcrumbs and flour and cook for 2-3 minutes
  • stirring all the time to prevent any lumps forming.
  • Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Add the Worcestershire sauce
  • whole egg
  • egg yolk and the mustard powder. Mix thoroughly and season
  • to taste
  • with salt and pepper. Set aside while you make the fries.
  • Preheat the deep-fat fryer to 180C. (CAUTION: hot fat can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.)
  • Drop the fries into the hot fat and cook for 3 minutes
  • or until golden-brown and crisp. Drain on kitchen roll and season with salt.
  • For the crab rarebit
  • preheat the grill to high.
  • Place the filled crab shells on a baking tray. Spoon the rarebit sauce over the top of the crabmeat. Drizzle a little melted butter over the top and place under the hot grill for a few minutes until the rarebit is bubbling and golden-brown.
  • When ready to serve
  • dress the Little Gem leaves with the olive oil and lemon juice.
  • Serve the crab rarebit in the shells with the salad and fries alongside.