Crab Imperial with Red Pepper |
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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes |
Ready In: 0 Minutes Servings: 8 |
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Ingredients:
1 stick unsalted butter, 6 tablespoons melted, plus more for greasing |
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour |
1 1/2 cups milk |
salt |
freshly ground pepper |
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil |
1 small onion, finely diced |
1/2 red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch dice |
2 large egg yolks |
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice |
finely grated zest of 1 lemon |
hot sauce, such as crystal or tabasco |
1 pound lump crabmeat, picked over |
toasted baguette slices, for serving |
Directions:
1. In a saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over moderate heat. Stir in the flour to make a paste. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth and simmer, whisking, until the sauce thickens. Reduce the heat to low and cook, whisking, until no floury taste remains, about 7 minutes. Season the béchamel with salt and pepper. Cover and remove from the heat.
2. In a skillet, heat the oil. Add the onion and cook over moderate heat until translucent. Add the bell pepper and cook until softened, 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
3. In a stainless steel bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the lemon juice. Set the bowl over (not in) a saucepan of simmering water and whisk constantly until thickened, 2 minutes; remove from the heat and slowly whisk in the 6 tablespoons of melted butter until a smooth sauce forms. Fold in the béchamel and lemon zest. Season with salt, pepper and hot sauce.
4. Preheat the broiler. Set one rack 6 inches from the heat and another rack 10 inches from the heat. Butter a 9-by-9-inch ceramic baking dish. In a bowl, combine the crabmeat, onion and bell pepper. Gently fold in the sauce. Scrape into the prepared baking dish. Broil on the upper rack for 3 minutes, until browned. Transfer the baking dish to the lower rack and broil for 4 minutes longer, until hot throughout. Serve with baguette toasts.
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