Pastel De Jaibas Chilean Crab Casserole Recipes

PASTEL DE JAIBA (CHILEAN BLUE CRAB PIE)

Steps:

• Soak the bread in the cream. While bread is soaking, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is hot but not smoking, saute the chopped onions until they turn golden, stirring regularly to avoid burning (about 8 minutes).
• Add crab meat, butter and soaked bread along with any additional cream to the pan and reduce the heat to low. Stir almost constantly, until sauce thickens (approximately 5 minutes). Add the Gouda cheese and cook for about 10 more minutes, or until cheese is fully melted and incorporated. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• For serving, this may be scooped back into the (cleaned) crab shells, or you can scoop it into four individual oven-safe ramekins. Sprinkle the Parmesan evenly over each serving, then broil until cheese melts and turns golden brown. Sprinkle the top of each serving with a pinch of chopped chives and serve.

CROQUETAS DE JAIBAS, ESTILO YBOR (YBOR CITY'S DEVILED CRABS)

Steps:

• Dough Recipe: The dough must be prepared and refrigerated, preferably overnight. Remove crust from bread; soak in water for 1/2 hour. Drain and squeeze thoroughly. Add paprika and salt. Add the bread crumbs and work to form a dough, place in refrigerator to chill thoroughly.
• Crab Meat Filling: Heat the olive oil in a skillet. Saute the onion and green pepper until transparent. Add the garlic and saute all until soft.Combine salt, hot sauce, sugar, bay leaf, parsley, tomato sauce and the nutmeg. Add to saute and mix well. Cover and simmer for 1/2 hr (add water if needed during cooking time). Add the crab meat and sherry. Mix well and cook covered another 10 minute Cool and refrigerate.
• Preparation of the Croquettes: Remove dough and filling from refrigerator.Take 2 generous tablespoons Of dough in palm of your left hand. Indent with the back of a spoon in the center enough to fill with a tablespoons Of crab meat filling. Work dough around filling to form a croquette.
• Prepare a mixture of 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons Of water, salt and pepper and beat. vigorously. In a bowl, combine 1 cup of seasoned bread crumbs with 1/2 cup of all purpose flour. Mix well. Dip croquettes first in the egg mixture, then roll in the crumb flour mixture to coat well. Place croquettes side by side in a shallow dish. Cover with Saran Wrap or foil and refrigerate at least 1 hour before frying in deep fat.(Make sure you have lots of your favorite red pepper sauce available to pour onto them, it makes them even more delicious.).