Creamy Crab and Caviar Parfaits
James Carrier
Yields Makes 4 servings
Notes: Assemble through step 2 up to 4 hours ahead; cover and chill airtight. Garnish with cucumber and chives just before serving. If using salmon caviar, rinse with cold water and drain; use cold.

How to Make It

Step 1
1

In a bowl, mix celery, chopped cucumber, and minced chives.

Step 2
2

Spoon 2 tablespoons crab into each of 4 tall, stemmed glasses (about 8 oz. each); divide half the celery mixture, half the creamy wasabi dressing, and half the caviar among glasses. Repeat, ending with caviar.

Step 3
3

Garnish parfaits with cucumber slices and chive spears.

Step 4
4

How to cook crab

Step 5
5

Keep live crabs loosely covered in the refrigerator up to 12 hours. Grasp crabs carefully from the rear end, between the legs, and put in a pan to make sure they fit, with 3 to 4 inches of clearance below pan rim. Remove crabs and fill pan with enough water to cover crabs by 2 to 3 inches. Cover pan and bring water to a boil over high heat.

Step 6
6

One at a time, grasp crabs as described above and plunge them headfirst into the boiling water; if you have too much water, ladle out excess and discard. Cover pan and start timing. When water resumes boiling, reduce heat to a simmer. Cook 1 1/2- to 2 1/2-pound crabs 15 minutes, 3-pound crabs about 20 minutes.

Step 7
7

Drain crabs; to be able to handle quickly, rinse briefly with cool water.

Step 8
8

How to clean, crack, and shell crab

Step 9
9

Pull off and discard triangular flap from belly side.

Step 10
10

Turn crab belly side down; pulling from the rear end, lift off back shell. Drain and discard liquid from shell. If desired, scoop soft, golden crab butter and white crab fat from shell into a small bowl to eat by the spoonful with crab or to stir into a dipping sauce. If using back shell for garnish, break bony section (mouth) from front end of shell and discard. Rinse shell well and drain.

Step 11
11

On the body section, pull off and discard reddish membrane that covers the center (if it hasn't come off with the back) and any loose pieces. Scoop out any remaining golden butter and add to bowl. Pull off and discard long, spongy gills from sides of body. Rinse body well with cool water.

Step 12
12

Twist legs and claws from body. Using a nutcracker or wood mallet, crack the shell of each leg and claw section. With a knife, cut the body into quarters.

Step 13
13

Break apart legs and claws; using your fingers, a small fork, a pick, or a crab leg tip, remove meat. Pull body sections apart and dig out pockets of meat. Discard shells. One cooked, cleaned 1 3/4- to 2-pound crab (with back shell) yields 7 1/2 to 8 ounces (1 1/3 to 1 1/2 cups) of meat; heavier crabs do not always have more meat.

Ingredients

 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
 1/2 cup finely chopped English cucumber
 1/4 cup minced fresh chives
 1/2 pound shelled cooked crab (1 cup; see instructions below)
 1/2 cup tobiko caviar or salmon caviar (see notes)
 4 or 8 very thin slices English cucumber
  Fresh chive spears, rinsed

Directions

Step 1
1

In a bowl, mix celery, chopped cucumber, and minced chives.

Step 2
2

Spoon 2 tablespoons crab into each of 4 tall, stemmed glasses (about 8 oz. each); divide half the celery mixture, half the creamy wasabi dressing, and half the caviar among glasses. Repeat, ending with caviar.

Step 3
3

Garnish parfaits with cucumber slices and chive spears.

Step 4
4

How to cook crab

Step 5
5

Keep live crabs loosely covered in the refrigerator up to 12 hours. Grasp crabs carefully from the rear end, between the legs, and put in a pan to make sure they fit, with 3 to 4 inches of clearance below pan rim. Remove crabs and fill pan with enough water to cover crabs by 2 to 3 inches. Cover pan and bring water to a boil over high heat.

Step 6
6

One at a time, grasp crabs as described above and plunge them headfirst into the boiling water; if you have too much water, ladle out excess and discard. Cover pan and start timing. When water resumes boiling, reduce heat to a simmer. Cook 1 1/2- to 2 1/2-pound crabs 15 minutes, 3-pound crabs about 20 minutes.

Step 7
7

Drain crabs; to be able to handle quickly, rinse briefly with cool water.

Step 8
8

How to clean, crack, and shell crab

Step 9
9

Pull off and discard triangular flap from belly side.

Step 10
10

Turn crab belly side down; pulling from the rear end, lift off back shell. Drain and discard liquid from shell. If desired, scoop soft, golden crab butter and white crab fat from shell into a small bowl to eat by the spoonful with crab or to stir into a dipping sauce. If using back shell for garnish, break bony section (mouth) from front end of shell and discard. Rinse shell well and drain.

Step 11
11

On the body section, pull off and discard reddish membrane that covers the center (if it hasn't come off with the back) and any loose pieces. Scoop out any remaining golden butter and add to bowl. Pull off and discard long, spongy gills from sides of body. Rinse body well with cool water.

Step 12
12

Twist legs and claws from body. Using a nutcracker or wood mallet, crack the shell of each leg and claw section. With a knife, cut the body into quarters.

Step 13
13

Break apart legs and claws; using your fingers, a small fork, a pick, or a crab leg tip, remove meat. Pull body sections apart and dig out pockets of meat. Discard shells. One cooked, cleaned 1 3/4- to 2-pound crab (with back shell) yields 7 1/2 to 8 ounces (1 1/3 to 1 1/2 cups) of meat; heavier crabs do not always have more meat.

Creamy Crab and Caviar Parfaits

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