Pompano With Crabmeat And Citrus Beurre Blanc Recipes

CRAB CAKES WITH CRYSTAL BEURRE BLANC

Steps:

• For the crab cakes: In a large bowl, combine all ingredients for crab cakes. Gently mix to combine. Using an ice cream scoop, make 8 balls and place on a baking sheet or large plate. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. (If crab is very fresh, this may be done a day ahead of time.)
• For the Crystal beurre blanc: In a small saucepan, combine hot sauce, lemon and wine. Bring to boil over high heat, then simmer until reduced by a third, 3 to 4 minutes. Add cream and again reduce by a third, about 5 minutes. Lower heat and whisk in butter a few pieces at a time, making sure each addition is incorporated before adding next. Pour sauce through a fine-mesh strainer and add salt to taste. If desired, keep warm over a double-boiler.
• For the spinach base: For the spinach base: Place a large skillet over medium heat, and heat butter and olive oil in it. Add onion and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add spinach in batches, stirring and adding more until it all cooks down. Season to taste with salt and pepper, set aside and keep warm.
• For frying: Line up three shallow bowls. Place flour in one and season to taste with salt and pepper. Place eggs and milk in the second bowl; beat until mixed. Put bread crumbs in the third. Pat crab cakes into thick disks, like oversize scallops. Dip each into flour mixture, then egg mixture, then roll in bread crumbs. Set on a plate and chill for 30 minutes.
• Place a large sauté pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Pour in enough oil to come 1/2 inch up side of pan. When oil shimmers, add crab cakes. Cook, turning once, until light golden brown on both sides, about 2 minutes a side. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• To serve, place a mound of spinach on each of four serving plates. Place 2 crab cakes next to spinach and pour sauce around them. If desired, serve with more hot sauce.

CHEF JOHN'S BEURRE BLANC

Steps:

• Place wine, lemon juice, cream, shallots, and cream in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and let simmer until liquid is reduced by about 75%, 4 to 5 minutes. Reduce heat to the lowest setting and whisk in about 2 cubes of butter. Keep butter moving until it melts. When melted, add a few more cubes, whisking continuously so butter emulsifies into the wine/lemon juice mixture.
• Continue to add butter, a few cubes at a time until all of it has been incorporated and the sauce has a thick, luxurious texture, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Taste for seasonings and add a pinch of salt and cayenne, if desired. Serve immediately.

POMPANO WITH CRABMEAT AND CITRUS BEURRE BLANC

Steps:

• Mix wine, shallots, and lemon juice in small saucepan. Boil over medium-high heat until mixture is reduced to 1/3 cup. Add cream; boil gently until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Whisk eggs and milk in bowl. Mix flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in shallow dish. Dip each fish fillet into egg mixture, then coat both sides of fish with flour mixture. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add fish; cook until just opaque in center, about 4 minutes per side.
• Whisk sauce over medium heat until heated through; remove from heat. Add butter a few pieces at a time and whisk just until melted. Stir in lemon peel. Season sauce with salt and pepper.
• Place 1 fish fillet on each of 4 plates; top with crabmeat. Spoon sauce over; sprinkle with parsley and serve.

POMPANO WITH BLACK-EYED PEAS AND CITRUS SALSA

Steps:

• To make the salsa, combine the peas and water in a medium-size saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the peas are tender, adding more water if needed to keep them covered, about 1 hour. Drain and let cool.
• Place the peas in a bowl and add the onion, grapefruit, oranges, jalapenos and cilantro and toss lightly. Add the lime juice, olive oil, 2 teaspoons salt and pepper and toss. Set aside.
• To make the fish, combine the cornmeal, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Coat the fillets in the cornmeal. Spray both sides lightly with the olive oil. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the fillets and cook until just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side.
• While the fish is cooking, cut the avocado in half lengthwise and remove the pit. Cut the flesh lengthwise into thin slices and carefully scoop them out of the skin. Season the fish with salt and pepper to taste. Place 1 fillet on each of 4 plates. Spoon some of the salsa across each fillet. Fan the avocado slices over the salsa and serve immediately.