MINI SESAME CRAB CAKES
Ingredients
Serves 24 Crab Cakes
8 oz (250 g) crabmeat, picked over for shells
¼ cup + 3 tbsp (105 ml) mayonnaise, divided
2 green onions, trimmed, finely sliced
2 tbsp (30 ml) soy sauce or tamari
1 tsp (5 ml) finely grated lime zest
½ cup + 2 tbsp (155 ml) panko bread crumbs, divided
½ cup (125 ml) all-purpose flour
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 large eggs
¼ cup (60 ml) sesame seeds, mixture of white and black
¾ cup (175 ml) vegetable oil, plus extra as needed
1½ tsp (7 ml) wasabi paste, for garnish
1 English cucumber, for garnish
3 radishes, thinly sliced, for garnish
½ cup (125 ml) drained pickled ginger, for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, stir together crabmeat, ¼ cup (60 ml) mayonnaise, green onions, soy sauce and zest. Add 2 tbsp (30 ml) bread crumbs and stir until well combined. Refrigerate mixture for 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, set up a frying station. Whisk together flour with a good pinch of salt and pepper. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs. In a third bowl, stir remaining ½ cup (125 ml) bread crumbs with sesame seeds.
- Once crab mixture has been chilled, form into 1 tbsp (15 ml) balls. Coat balls in seasoned flour before shaking to remove excess. Shape into cakes about ¾-in (2 cm) high and about 1-in (2.5 cm) in diameter. One at a time, dip flour-coated cakes in egg, allowing excess to drip away, then roll in bread crumb mixture.
- Heat oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat until hot, but not smoking. Working in batches, fry several crab cakes at a time, turning once, until golden brown and crisp, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate before cooking remaining cakes. Add more oil to frying pan as needed. At this stage, crab cakes may be placed on a parchment-lined baking sheet and frozen until firm, about 1 hour. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze up to 5 weeks.
- When ready to serve, preheat oven to 425 F (220 C). Arrange crab cakes on a baking sheet and warm in oven until heated through, about 10 to 15 minutes, or slightly longer if cooking from frozen.
- While crab cakes bake, stir together remaining 3 tbsp (45 ml) mayonnaise with 1½ tsp (7 ml) wasabi paste until well combined. Using a vegetable peeler, cut ribbons from cucumber before cutting in thirds.
- Arrange crab cakes on a serving platter and garnish each with a folded ribbon of cucumber, slices of radish and pickled ginger. Dot with wasabi mayonnaise and serve immediately.
Drink Pairings
LOBSTER MINI BITES
Ingredients
Serves 12
½ cup (125 ml) minced celery with leaves
⅓ cup (75 ml) mayonnaise
3 tbsp (45 ml) minced fresh chives
1 tbsp (15 ml) minced fresh tarragon
1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
⅛ tsp (0.5 ml) smoked paprika
3 cups (750 ml) cooked and well-drained lobster meat
salt and pepper, to taste
12 mini brioche or potato bread rolls
micro greens, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine celery, mayonnaise, chives, tarragon, lemon juice and paprika. Stir to blend.
- Gently chop lobster leaving some claw meat whole. Fold into mayonnaise mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Cut mini brioche buns vertically, part way through centre, keeping partially attached at bottom. Press buns open and scoop spoons of lobster filling into centres. Garnish with micro greens and serve.
Drink Pairings
PRAWN AND GRAPEFRUIT RAVIOLI WITH PINK GRAPEFRUIT BEURRE BLANC
Ingredients
Serves 20 ravioli
PRAWN AND GRAPEFRUIT RAVIOLI:
3 tbsp (45 ml) unsalted butter
1 tbsp (15 ml) minced shallots
1 lb (500 g) shelled and deveined small prawns
1 garlic clove, minced
pinch of red pepper flakes
2 tbsp (15 ml) chopped fresh basil, divided
2 oz (60 ml) dry white vermouth
2 to 3 tbsp (30 to 45 ml) cornmeal
1 tbsp (15 ml) salt
1 pink grapefruit, segmented, for garnish
1 package of wonton wrappers (40-50 wonton wrappers)
GRAPEFRUIT BEURRE BLANC:
½ cup (125 ml) fresh grapefruit juice
1 tbsp (15 ml) dry white vermouth
¾ cup (180 ml) cold unsalted butter, cut into 12 pieces
salt and freshly ground white pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Melt butter over medium-high heat in a large frying pan. Add shallots and cook until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add prawns and cook for 2 minutes stirring occasionally. Reserve a few prawns for garnish.
- Add garlic, red pepper flakes and 1 tbsp (15 ml) basil and cook for about 1 minute or until fragrant, stirring occasionally. Add vermouth and cook for about 4 minutes or until reduced by half.
- Remove prawns from pan and set aside. If still too much liquid, cook until reduced to a glaze. Pour over prawns and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and sprinkle evenly with cornmeal.
- To make RAVIOLI: Take one wonton wrapper and set on a dry cutting board. Add 1 tbsp (15 ml) prawn filling. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush water all around exposed dough, add a second wonton wrapper on top and press to remove air and seal. Using a ravioli cutter, cut the desired shape and place ravioli on baking sheet. Repeat procedure until all the filling is used. Cover ravioli with a dry cloth and cook, or freeze until ready to use.
- To make GRAPEFRUIT BEURRE BLANC: Combine grapefruit juice and vermouth in small, heavy non-reactive saucepan. Bring to a low boil and cook until liquid is reduced to about 1 tbsp (15 ml). Remove pan from heat and using a whisk, beat in 1 piece of butter, then a second piece.
- Return pan to a very low heat and whisk in remaining butter, one piece at a time. Remove from heat and whisk in salt and pepper to taste. Cover and keep warm while preparing ravioli.
- Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add 1 tbsp (15 ml) salt and ravioli. Cook ravioli for about 3 minutes, or until it floats. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain well and transfer to serving plates or a platter.
- Pour beurre blanc around and over the ravioli, and garnish with reserved prawns, grapefruit segments and remaining chopped basil.
Drink Pairings
MINI STRAWBERRY SHISO TARTS
Ingredients
Serves about 24
1½ cups (375 ml) all-purpose flour, plus extra
½ cup (125 ml) icing sugar
¼ tsp (1 ml) fine salt
½ cup + 1 tbsp (140 ml) very cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes, plus extra for greasing
1 large egg
1 cup (250 ml) whole milk
8 shiso leaves, roughly chopped, plus extra for garnish, if desired
3 large egg yolks
½ cup (125 ml) granulated sugar
3 tbsp (45 ml) cornstarch
½ tsp (2 ml) vanilla
½ cup (125 ml) chilled whipping cream
24 strawberries, trimmed and each cut into 4 slices
¼ cup (60 ml) seedless strawberry jam, warmed until liquefied
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C). Lightly grease 24 barquette tins with butter before placing on baking tray.
- In a food processor fitted with steel blade attachment, pulse together flour, icing sugar and salt. Scatter cubes of butter over dry ingredients and pulse until coarsely incorporated, about 3 or 4 pulses. Add egg and continue to pulse until dough starts to clump together. Turn dough out onto work surface and very lightly knead just to finish incorporating ingredients.
- Divide dough into 24 pieces and press evenly across bottom and up sides of individual barquette tins, making tart shells. Transfer to baking sheet. Prick each tart a few times with a fork and freeze for 20 minutes.
- Press small pieces of aluminum foil tightly against each shell and bake in middle of oven for 10 minutes. Carefully remove foil. If shells have puffed, press down gently with back of a spoon. Bake another 5 to 8 minutes until shells are firm and golden brown. Transfer baking sheet to wire rack and let shells cool for 5 minutes before removing from moulds and allowing to cool completely on rack.
- Meanwhile, make shiso cream. In a small saucepan bring milk and shiso leaves to boil over medium-high heat. Remove saucepan from heat, cover and let stand for 20 minutes. Strain infused milk through a finemeshed sieve into a bowl. In medium-sized saucepan whisk together 3 egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch and vanilla. While whisking, slowly incorporate infused milk before bringing mixture to boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, whisking for 3 minutes. Mixture will be very thick. Transfer to a bowl, press a piece of plastic wrap into surface to seal, and refrigerate until cold, about 4 hours.
- In bowl of an electric mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Whisk chilled shiso mixture until smooth before whisking in half the whipped cream. With a rubber spatula, fold remaining whipped cream into shiso mixture. Transfer to piping bag fitted with a round or star tip.
- Before serving, pipe shiso cream into tart shells. Top with strawberry slices and brush with melted strawberry jam. Garnish with a sprinkle of chopped shiso leaf, if desired. Serve immediately.
Drink Pairings
MEDITERRANEAN SPINACH AND CHICKEN PHYLLO BITES
Ingredients
Serves 54 bites
½ cup (125 ml) whole blanched almonds, toasted
¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil, divided
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
salt and pepper, to taste
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ tsp (2 ml) ground ginger
¼ tsp (1 ml) ground turmeric
1 tsp (5 ml) ground cinnamon, plus more for garnish
2 cups (500 ml) fresh spinach, chopped
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
12 sheets thawed phyllo dough
½ cup (125 ml) unsalted butter, melted, plus extra if needed
icing sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Add almonds to bowl of a food processor fitted with metal blade and pulse until finely ground. Place in a large bowl and set aside.
- Heat 1 tbsp (15 ml) oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper before adding to pan and cook, turning once, until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate to cool slightly before finely chopping and adding to bowl along with ground almonds.
- Wipe out frying pan. Add remaining 3 tbsp (45 ml) oil and place over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until softened, about 4 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, turmeric and cinnamon, cooking until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in spinach and cook until wilted and pan is cooked dry, about 5 minutes. Add eggs and cook, stirring until scrambled but still moist. Add spinach mixture to bowl with chicken mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Fold together until well combined.
- On a clean work surface, unfold 1 sheet of phyllo with short side facing you. Cover remaining sheets with a damp kitchen towel. Lightly brush with melted butter before placing another phyllo sheet on top brushing with more butter. Cut phyllo stack lengthwise into thirds and then crosswise into thirds making 9 equal rectangles.
- Working with 1 rectangle at a time, place 1 tbsp (15 ml) chicken mixture about ½-in (1.25 cm) from end of short side while leaving ½-in (1.25 cm) border along either long side. Fold each long side over filling, then starting from end with filling, roll up filling inside phyllo. Repeat process with remaining phyllo and filling. Brush top of each bite with butter before arranging, seam-sides down, on parchment-lined baking sheets. At this point, bites may be frozen until solid, about 1 hour, before transferring to an airtight container. Can be frozen for up to 5 weeks.
- When ready to serve, preheat oven to 425 F (220 C). Arrange phyllo bites on a baking sheet and warm in oven until golden brown and heated through, about 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool slightly before lightly dusting with icing sugar and extra cinnamon. Serve on a platter while still warm.
Drink Pairings
PIÑA COLADA PARFAITS
Ingredients
Serves Serves 8
1 x 14 oz (398 ml) full-fat coconut milk, refrigerated overnight
½ cup (125 ml) icing sugar
½ tsp (2 ml) vanilla extract
½ cup (125 ml) whipping cream
3 cups (750 ml) pineapple chunks, drained and very finely diced
2 tbsp (30 ml) coconut-flavoured rum, optional
¾ cup (175 ml) coarsely chopped macadamia nuts, toasted
Instructions
- Remove can of coconut milk from refrigerator, being careful not to tip or jostle contents. Scrape out top layer of thickened cream into a large, chilled mixing bowl. Refrigerate remaining liquid for use in another recipe. With an electric mixer, beat cream for 1 minute until smooth. Gradually beat in icing sugar and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Place whipping cream in another chilled mixing bowl. With cleaned and chilled beaters, whip until cream is fluffy and soft peaks form. Add to coconut cream and gently fold together until evenly mixed. Transfer to a piping bag filled with a 1A piping tip.
- Place finely diced pineapple in a bowl and stir in rum, if using.
- To assemble, line up 8 x 6 oz (175 ml) glasses. Place about 2 tbsp (30 ml) pineapple in the bottom of each glass. Pipe each with about 3 tbsp (45 ml) whipped coconut cream and add another layer of pineapple. Sprinkle with a tbsp (15 ml) chopped macadamia nuts. Pipe with another layer of cream and a layer of pineapple ending with cream. Dust with a few more chopped macadamias. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Best served the same day.
Drink Pairings
PAN-SEARED STEELHEAD WITH PEA PURÉE
Ingredients
Serves 4
POTATOES:
½ lb (250 g) small, assorted coloured baby potatoes
1 tbsp (15 ml) unsalted butter
½ tsp (2 ml) minced fresh thyme
PEA PURÉE:
2 cups (500 ml) frozen peas
½ cup (125 ml) chicken or vegetable stock
1 tbsp (15 ml) truffle oil
1 tsp (5 ml) finely grated lemon zest
1 garlic clove, smashed and minced
½ tsp (2 ml) each salt and black pepper
STEELHEAD:
1 tbsp (15 ml) unsalted butter
¼ cup (50 ml) enoki mushrooms
1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
4 x 4 oz (120 g) steelhead trout fillets, boned and halved crosswise
¼ cup (50 ml) sugar snap peas, blanched
¼ cup (50 ml) micro greens, for garnish
Instructions
- To make POTATOES: Boil potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain and return to saucepan. Toss with butter and seasonings. Cover and set aside.
- To make PEA PURÉE: Blanch peas for a minute or two with boiling water just until thawed. Strain and place in a blender along with remaining ingredients. Blend until very smooth. For a creamier texture, press mixture through a fine-meshed sieve into a small saucepan. Cover and set aside.
- To make STEELHEAD: Preheat oven to 325 F (165 C). In an ovenproof frying pan, heat 1 tbsp (15 ml) butter over medium-high heat until very hot. Add mushrooms and sauté until golden. Season with salt and pepper and remove with a slotted spoon to a dish and set aside.
- Add oil to hot frying pan. Add fillets, skinside down, and sear over medium-high heat until skin is crispy. Gently flip fillets and place pan in oven. Bake for another 2 to 3 minutes or just until fish is cooked in the centre.
- Toss potatoes over medium heat until warm, and gently warm Pea Purée. Spoon purée in centre of a shallow serving bowl. Position potatoes on top in centre of purée. Stack 2 pieces seared salmon on top of potatoes. Scatter mushrooms alongside with blanched peas. Garnish with a few micro greens and serve immediately.
Drink Pairings
POTATO GALETTE WITH MAPLE CANDIED BACON
Ingredients
Serves 8
4 onions, thinly sliced
1 tbsp (15 ml) butter
4 large russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
2 tbsp (30 ml) fresh thyme, finely chopped
2 cups (500 ml), chicken or vegetable broth
MAPLE CANDIED BACON
1 lb (500 g) thickly sliced bacon
½ cup (125 ml) maple syrup
1 tbsp (15 ml) Dijon mustard
2 tsp (10 ml) apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F (200C). Line an 8-cup muffin tin with parchment paper. Parchment paper should extend over muffin cup edges to create handles. Set aside.
- In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions, stir to coat with melted butter and cook over medium heat until golden, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely.
- Using a cookie cutter the size of the bottom of a muffin cup, cut each potato slice. Place a layer of potato slice in the bottom of each muffin cup. Add onions and fresh thyme to each cup. Season with salt and pepper. Repeat layers (gently pressing potatoes to pack down) until all ingredients are used up. Add chicken broth to fill each cup to the top.
- Bake on middle rack of oven until potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife, about 40 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before lifting out. Gently pull away the parchment paper with the tip of a knife. Serve immediately. Garnish with Maple Candied Bacon.
- To make MAPLE CANDIED BACON: Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C). Line a baking sheet (including edges) with foil and place a cooling rack on top.
- In a small bowl, stir together maple syrup, mustard, vinegar and pepper. Add half the mixture to a baking dish, reserving rest for basting. Lay the bacon, piece by piece, in the baking dish, coating both sides, then transfer bacon to the cooling rack, making sure the slices do not overlap.
- Place in the oven and cook for 5 minutes. Baste slices, flip them and baste other side. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes or until crispy, basting every 5 minutes. Remove from rack and place on parchment paper or silicone mat.
Drink Pairings
MIXED BERRY AND ELDERFLOWER CREAM SANDWICH CAKES
Ingredients
Serves about 19 cakes
BERRY FILLING:
1 heaping cup (250 ml) fresh strawberries
1 heaping cup (250 ml) fresh raspberries
½ heaping cup (125 ml) fresh blueberries
1 cup (250 ml) water
1 cup (250 ml) granulated sugar
2 tbsp (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
3 tbsp (45 ml) cornstarch
CAKE BATTER:
2½ cups (725 ml) all-purpose flour
¾ cup (175 ml) pastry flour
1¼ cups (300 ml) granulated sugar
1 tsp (5 ml) baking soda
1 large egg
⅓ cup (75 ml) vegetable oil
1½ cups (375 ml) buttermilk
½ vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped out
ELDERFLOWER CREAM:
1¼ cups (300 ml) whipping cream
1½ tsp (7 ml) elderflower cordial concentrate
1 tbsp (15 ml) skim milk powder
1 tbsp (15 ml) icing sugar, plus extra for garnish
Instructions
- To make BERRY FILLING: In a heavybottomed saucepan combine berries and water over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring often, for 30 minutes. Stir in sugar and continue to cook, stirring often, for 10 minutes. Whisk together lemon juice and cornstarch before stirring into berry mixture. Stir constantly until thickened, about 2 minutes. Transfer mixture to an airtight container and refrigerate until chilled, about 6 hours.
- Place racks in upper and lower third of oven before preheating oven to 375 F (190 C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- To make CAKE BATTER: In a medium-sized bowl, sift together flours, sugar and baking soda.
- In a large bowl, whisk together egg and vegetable oil. Add buttermilk and vanilla seeds, whisking until well combined.
- Slowly stir flour mixture into buttermilk mixture just until combined. Drop a level 1½ tbsp (22 ml) of batter into 12 mounds at least 2-in (5 cm) apart on 1 prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining batter on second baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, switching pans on racks halfway, or until puffed and tops spring back when touched. Let cool on pans for 2 minutes. Transfer cakes to wire racks to cool completely. Repeat with any remaining batter.
- Just before ready to serve, prepare ELDERFLOWER CREAM: In a chilled bowl, whip cream, elderflower cordial, skim milk powder and icing sugar until stiff peaks form. Whipped cream can be prepared and refrigerated for up to 2 hours before using.
- To assemble, spread about 1½ tbsp (22 ml) berry filling onto flat side of half the cakes. Pipe or spread about 2 to 3 tbsp (30 to 45 ml) elderflower cream over berry filling and sandwich with remaining cakes. Dust with additional icing sugar, if desired before serving immediately.
Drink Pairings
POTATO FLATBREAD WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS, PANCETTA AND FONTINA CHEESE
Ingredients
Serves 4
3 tbsp (45 ml) butter
2 large cooking onions, peeled and thinly sliced
¼ tsp (1 ml) granulated sugar
salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 cup (250 ml) thinly sliced new potatoes
4 tbsp (60 ml) olive oil, plus extra for brushing bread
2½ cups (625 ml) all-purpose flour
1 x 7 g package instant or quick-rise yeast
2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped fresh rosemary, divided
¼ cup (60 ml) finely chopped, pitted dried olives
½ tsp (2 ml) granulated sugar
¾ tsp (4 ml) salt
1 cup (250 ml) very warm water, about 130 F (50 C)
2 cups (500 ml) shredded fontina cheese
6 slices pancetta, ⅛ -in (0.25 cm) sliced, cooked until crisp, and crumbled
½ cup (125 ml) crumbled feta cheese
1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh thyme leaves
Instructions
- To make caramelized onions, melt butter in large frying pan over medium heat. Add onions and sugar and toss to coat. Slowly cook onions, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes or until they start to turn colour. Turn heat up to mediumhigh and stir constantly until they begin to brown, about 10 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool.
- Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. In a bowl, toss potatoes with 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Lay in a single layer on the baking sheet. Place in oven and bake, turning slices over once, until potatoes just begin to brown, about 10 to12 minutes. Remove from heat and cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, add 2 cups (500 ml) flour, yeast, 1 tbsp (15 ml) of the rosemary, chopped dried olives, sugar and salt. Gradually stir the warm water and 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil into the flour mixture with a wooden spoon. Stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 5 to 10 minutes. Cover and let rest on floured surface 10 minutes. Alternatively, this can be done in an electric mixer with a dough hook attachment.
- Preheat barbecue to 450 F (230 C).
- Roll or press dough into a 12- or 16-in (30 to 40 cm) circle. Spray lightly or brush with vegetable oil spray or olive oil and allow dough to sit 10 minutes while barbecue preheats.
- When barbecue is hot, place flatbread dough, oiled-side down, on grill and cook, covered, 3 to 7 minutes or until underside has grill marks, is lightly browned and the top has started to bubble. Watching to make sure temperature is not too high, as all barbecues are different.
- Spray top with vegetable oil spray or brush with olive oil, flip flatbread over and grill other side 3 to 4 minutes until very lightly browned. Remove flatbread dough from barbecue and transfer to a large wooden board or platter. Lightly brush perimeter of the dough with olive oil. Sprinkle about two-thirds of the shredded fontina over dough. Layer evenly with cooked potato slices, caramelized onions and crumbled pancetta. Sprinkle with feta, remaining fontina and rosemary.
- Return flatbread to barbecue, reduce heat to medium and cook another 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheeses have melted. Remove from grill and sprinkle with thyme. Let cool slightly before slicing and serving.