104 posts tagged “appetizers”
Grilled Seafood Ceviche
½ pound large peeled shrimp
½ pound bay scallops
½ pound baby octopus
Olive oil
3/4 cup fresh lime juice, plus several lime slices for garnish
1 medium white onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus several sprigs for garnish
3/4 cup ketchup (or half each ketchup and chili sauce)
1 to 2 tablespoons bottled hot sauce
2-3 tablespoons olive oil (optional, but recommended to smooth out sharpness)
¾ cup diced peeled cucumber
¾ cup diced jicama
2 small ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and cubed
Salt, about 1/2 teaspoon
Marinate the seafood in olive oil and 2 cloves minced garlic for 30 minutes or longer. Grill the shrimp, scallops and octopus on a gas or charcoal grill. Do not overcook.
Cut the cooked shrimp and baby octopus into 1” pieces and quarter the cooked scallops. Place the seafood in a gallon size plastic storage bag. Toss with the lime juice and refrigerate to chill.
In a strainer, rinse the onion under cold water and then shake off the excess liquid.
Add the seafood to a ceramic or non-aluminum bowl, along with the cilantro, ketchup, hot sauce, olive oil, cucumber, jícama and avocado. Taste and season with salt. Cover and refrigerate, but if not serving immediately, prepare and add the avocado shortly before serving.
Spoon the ceviche into margarita glasses or small bowls; garnish with sprigs of cilantro and slices of lime. Serve with tostadas or tortilla chips.
Crab-Stuffed Deviled Eggs
Yields 6-8 servings
12 large eggs
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Juice of half a lemon
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1/4 cup celery leaves, chopped
1/4 cup parsley leaves, chopped
1/2 pound lump crabmeat, picked over for shells
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Place the eggs in a large saucepan and cover with water by 1-inch. Bring to a boil. As soon as the water comes to a boil, set a timer and boil the eggs for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and place in the sink. Drain, and run with cold running water until cool enough to handle. Peel the eggs and cut them in half lengthwise.
Remove the yolks from the whites and put them in a medium-size bowl. With the back of a fork, mash the yolks then add the mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, celery leaves and parsley leaves, and mix well. Add the crabmeat and gently stir to mix. Season with salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Spoon equal amounts of the mixture into the egg white halves and chill well before serving.
Shrimp Cocktail Salad Rolls
Yields 4 servings
16 large, store-bought, peeled, de-veined and cooked shrimp, tails removed and chopped into bite-size pieces
5 radishes, thinly sliced, then stacked and julienned into matchsticks
1/4 yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
2 scallions, both green and white parts, thinly sliced on an angle
6 stalks celery, 2 finely chopped and 4 cut into sticks
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 to 3 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup hot sauce
1/4 cup store-bought cocktail sauce
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons butter, melted
4 hot dog buns, split on the top
4 carrots, peeled and cut into sticks
1 bag rosemary potato chips, or any other healthy chip you like
In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine the shrimp, radishes, bell pepper, scallions and the chopped celery. For the dressing: In a separate mixing bowl, combine the vinegar, honey, Worcestershire, hot sauce and cocktail sauce. Whisk in the olive oil and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Pour the dressing over the shrimp salad, toss to combine and reserve in the fridge until ready to serve.
Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. While the skillet is heating, brush the hot dog buns with the melted butter. Toast in the skillet until golden brown. Fill the buns with the shrimp salad. Serve with carrot and celery sticks and healthy potato chips alongside.
Maryland Crab Cakes
Serves 4
5 saltine crackers, crushed to fine crumbs
1 pound lump crabmeat, picked over for cartilage
1 large egg
2 1/2 tablespoons Mayonnaise
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Dash hot sauce, such as Tabasco
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons peanut oil
Horseradish Tartar Sauce
In a large bowl, gently mix together cracker crumbs, crabmeat, egg, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. The mixture will be wet. Form about 1/4 of the crab mixture for each cake.
Heat peanut oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Gently slide the cakes off a spatula into the oil. Sauté until the crab cakes are golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes on each side. Remove from skillet, and drain on paper towels. Serve hot with tartar sauce.
Maryland Crab Cakes
Serves 8
1 pound small-size fresh crabmeat, such as special or claw
1 pound larger-size fresh crabmeat, such as jumbo lump or backfin
1/2 cup light mayonnaise
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from 2 lemons), plus wedges, for serving
1 large egg
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 cup fine saltine crumbs (from about 30 crackers)
4 tablespoons butter, melted
Tartar Sauce, homemade or store-bought, for serving (recipe follows)
Heat broiler, with rack 4 inches from heat. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil; set aside. Keeping each pound of crabmeat separate, turn out onto paper towels; pick through to remove any shells or cartilage.
In a large bowl, stir together mayonnaise, parsley, lemon juice, egg, mustard, Old Bay, teaspoon coarse salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add crumbs and small-size crabmeat to mayonnaise mixture; stir well to combine. Gently fold in larger-size crabmeat just until combined. Dividing evenly, form mixture into 8 cakes. (To make ahead: Arrange cakes in a parchment-lined container so they do not touch; separate layers with additional parchment. Cover and refrigerate up to 1 day.)
Place cakes on prepared baking sheet; drizzle with melted butter. Broil until golden brown and warmed throughout, 12 to 15 minutes (move to lower shelf if tops brown too quickly). Serve with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
Tartar Sauce
Makes 1 1/4 cups
1 cup light mayonnaise
4 cornichon pickles, minced
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 shallot, minced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
In a small bowl, mix 1 cup light mayonnaise, 4 cornichon pickles, minced, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, and 1 shallot, minced. Season with coarse salt and ground pepper.
Crab Cakes
Recipe courtesy of Robert Duvall
Makes 5 crab cakes
1 pound jumbo lump crab meat, picked through
2 heaping tablespoons prepared mayonnaise
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 heaping teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 small onion, grated
1/2 teaspoon powdered mustard
17 saltine crackers, finely crushed
1/4 cup canola oil
Tartar Sauce (recipe follows)
Lemon wedges, for serving
In a large bowl, mix together crab meat, mayonnaise, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, onion, and mustard. Gently stir in crackers. Using a large ice cream scoop, scoop crab mixture into 8 portions onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Press each scoop into a patty about 3/4 inch thick.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add crab cakes and cook, turning once, until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Serve immediately with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
Tartar Sauce
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chopped cornichons
1 tablespoon grated onion
1 tablespoon capers, drained
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Coarse salt
Freshly ground black pepper
In a small bowl whisk together mayonnaise, cornichons, shallots, capers, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Steamers with Asian Broth and Cilantro Butter
Serves 6 to 8
1 cup unsalted clam juice
1 cup loosely packed Thai or regular fresh basil leaves
1 2-inch piece lemongrass, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce, (nam pla)
1 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
8 pounds steamers, (littlenecks or cherrystones can be used instead), scrubbed
3 limes, cut in wedges, for garnish
Combine 2 cups water, clam juice, basil, lemongrass, lime juice, fish sauce, and salt in a stockpot; bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until well flavored, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, combine cilantro and butter in food processor; mix until cilantro is in tiny flecks. Set aside in a small saucepan.
Pass liquid in stockpot through cheesecloth-lined strainer. Return to stockpot over medium-high heat. Add clams (use a bamboo steamer if desired); cover pan. Cook until clams open, 10 to 12 minutes; discard unopened ones. Melt the cilantro butter. Transfer the clams to a serving bowl, and strain the broth through a cheesecloth-lined strainer. Serve clams with lime wedges, broth for rinsing off sand, and butter for dipping.
Shrimp Potstickers
Makes about 30
2 tablespoons cilantro leaves
1/2 pound large shrimp, shelled and deveined
1 large egg white
1 1/2 teaspoons chile oil, or 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil mixed with a pinch of cayenne
1 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 medium carrot, grated
3/4 cup finely chopped (about 2 ounces) Napa cabbage
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
2 small scallions, finely chopped
1 tablespoon minced (about 1 small) shallot
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 package 3-inch round Chinese dumpling wrappers, available at large supermarkets
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon rice-wine vinegar
1 scallion, sliced
Finely chop 1 tablespoon cilantro leaves. Set aside. Coarsely chop half of the shrimp by hand, and set aside. In the bowl of a food processor, combine remaining shrimp, egg white, chile oil, sesame oil, and soy sauce. Puree into a smooth paste. Transfer to a medium bowl, add chopped cilantro, reserved chopped shrimp, carrot, cabbage, ginger, scallions, shallots, salt, and pepper, and mix well.
Place 1 teaspoon of filling toward the front of a dumpling wrapper. There are two methods of sealing dumplings. Pleating one edge of the wrapper gives the dumpling its distinctive curved shape and allows it to stand upright in the pan. Do this by moistening edges with water using your finger. Bring two edges together, forming a taco shape, and pinch edges together only in the top center to seal. Pinch six small pleats (three on either side of the sealed center point) along one thickness only of the wrapper. Seal dumpling by pressing pleated and unpleated edges tightly together, enclosing filling. Alternatively, moisten wrapper edges with water, fold in half into a crescent shape around the filling, and pinch edges tightly closed. While forming dumplings, keep remaining wrappers covered with plastic wrap. Place filled dumplings on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and cover with plastic wrap.
In a small serving bowl, whisk together ingredients for dipping sauce.
Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a well-seasoned 11-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Arrange half of the dumplings tightly together in heated skillet, and cook until deep golden brown, shaking the pan one or two times, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1 cup hot water, partially cover, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, and cook until the bottoms of the dumplings are very crisp and all the water has evaporated, about 4 to 5 more minutes. Slide a spatula under dumplings to loosen them from the pan. Serve this batch of dumplings immediately or place them on a baking sheet, cover loosely with aluminum foil, and keep warm in a low oven. Wash skillet, and repeat process with remaining dumplings. Transfer to a plate, garnish with remaining cilantro leaves, and serve with dipping sauce.
Chicken and Thai Basil Dumplings
Makes about 3 1/2 dozen
1 pound ground chicken breasts
2 ounces bean thread noodles, blanched and chopped
1 cup grated carrot, squeezed dry
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh Thai basil, chopped
1/4 cup scallion greens, cut on the diagonal
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon green curry paste, (preferably Maeploy brand)
3 tablespoons fish sauce
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons coconut milk
1 package round white dumpling wrappers
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1/4 cup Sriracha chile sauce
1 can (14-ounce) coconut milk
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1/4 cup dark-brown sugar
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Prepare the filling; combine all of the ingredients, except the dumpling wrappers, in a medium bowl. Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon filling, and cook until no longer pink. Taste, and adjust the seasoning, if necessary.
Place a dumpling skin on work surface. Using your finger, wet around the edges with water. Place 1 1/2 tablespoons filling in the center. Fold dumpling skin over to enclose. Pinch the edges together to form a half moon. Pleat the rounded edge. Set aside. Repeat with remaining filling and wrappers.
Prepare dipping sauce; combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat gently, whisking, until emulsified. Be sure not to boil. Set aside to cool. Just before serving, bring a large pot, fitted with a steamer insert lined with lightly oiled parchment paper with a few holes poked in it, to a simmer. Add dumplings and simmer until cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.
Ginger Shrimp with Charred Tomato Relish
Serves 4
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons grated peeled ginger (2-inch piece)
3 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for grill
20 extra-large shrimp (about 1 pound), peeled, deveined, tails left on
4 ripe plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise
2 medium green tomatoes, halved lengthwise
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (1 lime)
1 tablespoon minced fresh jalapeno pepper (with seeds)
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon chopped basil
Soak 20 skewers in a pan of water for 30 minutes. In a medium bowl, stir together garlic and ginger. Transfer half of the mixture to a large bowl and stir in 2 tablespoons oil. Add the shrimp, toss until evenly coated, and then cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Cover remaining garlic-ginger mixture and refrigerate.
Heat grill to hot; lightly oil grates. In a medium bowl toss plum and green tomatoes with remaining tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper. Grill tomatoes, cut side up, until skins are charred and flesh is tender, 4 to 6 minutes for the plum tomatoes, 8 to 10 minutes for the green tomatoes (if the green tomatoes are very hard, this may take longer). Be careful as you grill, as the juice from the tomatoes and the oil on their surface may cause flare-ups.
When tomatoes are cool enough to handle, remove and discard skins and seeds. Finely chop flesh and add to bowl with reserved garlic-ginger mixture. Add lime juice, jalapeno, sugar, cilantro, and basil. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Thread shrimp, lengthwise, onto prepared skewers (going through tail and top of shrimp), one shrimp per skewer. Grill until shrimp are opaque throughout, about 2 minutes per side. To serve, place skewered shrimp on a platter with a bowl of the relish.
