Saturday, March 5, 2011

Imitation Crab... Running Out Of Ideas?


Ever purchased that imitation crab only to find it taste like cardboard? Don't throw it out or up against the wall and call that "Abstract Art".... I have come up with a few recipes so hang on.
Honeyman likes crab but it does not like him. He get the imitation crab then I have the joy of trying to create something with it. NOT easy when one is lacking cooking skills as I am.
I came up with this dish, its simple, quick and easy.

A name..... you want a name for the recipe? Hum???? Creamy Crab Delight?.. Crab & Creamy? OH! I don't know???? Its your call...

(1)  2-1/2 cups of imitation crab.
(2) 2 or 3 stalks of spring onions (depending on the size of them) cut up in 1/4" slices and use the green part too. ( I did not have any for this dish the other night so I has to use a small sweet Spanish onion 1/2 cup.
(3)  1/3 cup each of diced red, yellow and orange bell pepper.
(4)  2 T butter or 2 T olive oil. I use olive oil, you are making a rue.
(5)  3 Tablespoons of plain flour
(6)  1/4 cup parmesan cheese
(7)  1 teaspoon Garlic & Herb Blend. You can find them at your local grocery store, its the salt free one.
( I make up my own blends from herbs I get from the farmers market but I found those are okay to use.)
(8)  Milk (probably start with a 1/2 cup)
(9)  Salt to taste

In a pot or skillet, sauté the onions and peppers on medium low heat in the butter and olive oil till they are just ever so slightly wilted, this wont take long at all. You are sweating them in other words. You don't want to over cook at the start as there is still some cooking time still remaining.  Add the flour (you will be making a rue) to the onions and peppers and blend till all the flour has soaked up the butter and keep stirring for a minute or two, you need to cook the flour just a bit.

Turn up the heat to med and add the milk little at a time and stirring a minute or two after each addition. ( you will be making a medium gravy like sauce) You do not want it too thin or thick so don't add to much milk at one time. You will have to stay on top of this and keep stirring slowly. You will be able to tell when you need to add more milk as the mixture will get very thick. Continue this procedure till you have a rich creamy mixture that coats a wooden spoon and hangs onto it for dear life. Add the crab, herbs and parmesan cheese. Turn your fire down to low and stir occasionally for 3-5 minutes till you start to see it simmer. Let simmer for 30 seconds, stir and then turn the heat off. Cover the pot and let sit for 20 minutes.

Cook your favorite pasta, I used linguini noodles for hubby but trying to get him to eat whole weath pasta so I am mixing regular and whole wheat together.  Plate it up and enjoy. Add salt to taste. We don't salt it as there is salt in the butter and in the pasta and the parmesan cheese taste salty. But that is your call.

I know it sounds like a lot of steps but its not. I can get this up and ready in 40 minutes from start to finish and that is including the 20 soaking time.



Hope you enjoy.

6 comments:

Southern Lady said...

Sounds really good. Carla

From the Kitchen said...

"McCreamy Crab" that's my entry. No, I don't watch "Grey's Anatomy" but I know who "McDreamy" is!! I've had the imitation crab at restaurants (where they just say "crab" and don't divulge it's imitation until placed in front of you) and I think that if one cuts it in small enough pieces and dresses it just right it can be tasty. I had it once in a crab cake and it had been shredded and not bad.

Still not on task around here.

Best,
Bonnie

Cora from Hidden Riches said...

This sounds really good and maybe something even I (the queen of being cooking challenged) could make! It's on for this week! Thanks so much for the recipe!!!!

Visits With Mary said...

Looks good...I love anything "creamy"....;)

Dolores said...

You're just full of great recipe ideas!!!
I'll try this one too.... Thanks! It sounds creamy and delicious!

Paula said...

This sounds great, Tammy... I LOVE crabmeat, whether real or imitation, but my hubby?
Well, let's just say he hasn't acquired the taste yet. BOO!