Southern Crab Hash Recipes

CRAB HASH

Steps:

• Remove any cartilage and shell from the crab meat.
• Cut the meat into chunks.
• Cover and refrigerate.
• Boil the potatoes in lightly salted water until thoroughly cooked, about 30 minutes.
• Drain and let cool.
• Cut the potatoes, with their skins, into ½-inch dice.
• Place in a mixing bowl.
• Cook the bacon in an 8- or 9-inch sauté pan over medium heat until browned and crisp.
• Remove the pan from the heat and, using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon from the pan, leaving the fat in the pan.
• Add the bacon to the potatoes.
• Return the sauté pan to the heat and add the onion and pepper.
• Turn up the heat and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until browned.
• Add the thyme and paprika, mix well and remove from the heat.
• Add the onion and pepper (including the fat) to the potatoes.
• Mix in the crab meat and season with salt and pepper.
• Mix very well, mashing the potato a bit so that the mixture sticks together.
• Divide the mixture into four 8-ounce portions and shape into 5-inch cakes.
• Refrigerate until ready to cook.
• Fill a deep pan with water for poaching the eggs.
• Lightly salt the water and add 1 tablespoon white vinegar for each cup of water.
• Bring to a boil, then lower the heat so that it barely simmers.
• Heat the oil in a well-seasoned 12- to 14-inch skillet over medium high heat.
• Cook the hash"cakes" (they should sizzle when you add them to the pan) for about 5 minutes until the sides are crisp and brown.
• Using a spatula, turn the cakes over.
• If they break when turning, don't worry; just use the spatula to reshape them in the pan.
• Meanwhile, break the eggs one at a time into a small bowl and slide each into the poaching liquid.
• Do this quickly so that all the eggs cook in about the same amount of time.
• It will take only 2 minutes for a loose poached egg: whites barely set and yolks runny.
• Center each hash cake on a medium plate and, using a slotted spoon, gently place a poached egg on top.
• Grind a bit of pepper over each egg and sprinkle the scallions over the entire dish.
• Serve at once.

CRISPY SKINNED CHESAPEAKE BAY ROCKFISH WITH HAYMAN SWEET POTATO, VIRGINIA COUNTRY HAM AND BLUE CRAB HASH, MELTED LEEKS AND MEYER LEMON BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the Meyer lemon butter: In a small saucepan, reduce the Meyer lemon juice until slightly syrupy. Stir in the heavy cream. Whisk in the cold cubed butter a few pieces at a time, not allowing the sauce to become cold or too hot to touch by hand. When all of the butter is incorporated, strain the sauce. If the sauce separates, pulse with an immersion blender to emulsify. Set aside and keep warm.
• For the hash: Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, salt it generously. Trim the root end of the leek and halve lengthwise. Rinse very well under running water to flush out any grit trapped between the leaves. Slice leeks into 1/4-inch-thick pieces, put in a small strainer and dip in the boiling water. Cook until just tender, about 3 minutes, then plunge strainer and leeks in an ice water bath to cool. Drain and pat dry leeks, set aside. Repeat this procedure with the diced sweet potatoes, blanch until almost tender, about 3 minutes, then cool in the ice bath. Drain and pat dry, set aside.
• In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the blanched Hayman sweet potatoes leeks, sweat until very tender about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the leeks continue to cook until heated through. Add the crab and country ham, stirring gently until heated through. Add the fines herbes at the last minute. Season, to taste, with salt and white pepper. Set aside and keep warm while you prepare the fish.
• For the rockfish: Score the skin side of the fillets with a sharp knife, taking care not to cut too far into the flesh of the fish. Season with salt and white pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add the clarified butter. Add the rockfish skin side down, sear until skin is golden and crisp, about 2 to 3 minutes. Flip, add the butter and thyme and bake until just cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• In a bowl or plate, drizzle the warm Meyer lemon butter in a circle just inside the rim. Gently place the warm blue crab hash in the center of the plate. Place the rockfish on top of the hash with the crispy skin side up. Garnish with Meyer lemon segments or slices, if desired.