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Stuffed crabs (Txangurro rellenos)

Australian Gourmet Traveller Spanish recipe for stuffed crabs (Txangurro rellenos).
Stuffed crabs (Txangurro rellenos)

Stuffed crabs (Txangurro rellenos)

William Meppem
4
45M
45M
1H 30M

Our snow crab looks very different from the Spanish txangurro, or spider crab, which has a prickly shell. You could use any type of crab, although your yield of crabmeat will vary. If you’re entertaining, have the crab mixture ready to go the day before, as the picking can be quite fiddly and time consuming. Or, if you can get your hands on top-notch picked crabmeat, just bake the mixture in ovenproof bowls.

Ingredients

Method

Main

1.Place crabs in freezer for 30 minutes to render them insensible.
2.Bring a large stockpot of salted water to the boil over high heat. Add crabs, cover and bring to the boil, then cook until crabs turn orange and are just cooked (8 minutes). Drain (reserve 50ml cooking liquid) and set aside to cool (1-2 hours).
3.Meanwhile, heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add shallot, garlic and chilli, sauté until shallot is soft and translucent (4-6 minutes). Add tomato flesh and sherry, stir occasionally until thick (10-15 minutes), season to taste, stir to combine. Set aside.
4.Preheat oven to 200C. Combine breadcrumbs and herbs in a bowl, set aside. Remove top shell from crab, clean under cold running water, set aside. Discard gills and coral from crab, then pick meat from crabs and place in a bowl. Add tomato mixture and reserved stock, stir to combine, then divide among crab shells (or bowls, if you’re using picked crabmeat), top with an even layer of breadcrumb mixture and dot butter over each. Roast on an oven tray until golden (15 minutes) and serve hot or warm.

Drink Suggestion: Dry fino sherry. Drink suggestion by Max Allen

Notes

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