Dayrecipe Food Community

for mustard mayonnaise

1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, melted

*available at japanese markets, some specialty foods and seafood shops

DIRECTIONS

Make crab mixture:
In a small non-stick skillet sauté bell pepper in oil over moderately high heat, stirring, 2 minutes, or until softened and golden. In a bowl whisk together mayonnaise, yolk, mustard, lemon juice, tarragon, and bell pepper and stir in crab and salt and pepper to taste gently but thoroughly. Chill crab mixture, covered, at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large shallow baking pan spread panko in even layer. Toast panko, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 10 minutes, and cool.(Panko may be toasted 1 week ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.)

Form rounded teaspoons of crab mixture into slightly flattened 1-inch rounds and gently coat with panko, transferring to a shallow baking pan. Chill crab cakes, loosely covered with wax paper, at least 2 hours and up to 4.

Make mustard mayonnaise:
In a small bowl whisk together mayonnaise, mustard, and lemon juice. (Mayonnaise may be made 3 days ahead and chilled, covered.)

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Drizzle a scant 1/4 teaspoon butter on each crab cake and bake in middle of oven until crisp and cooked through, about 15 minutes.

Serve crab cakes with mustard mayonnaise.

*available at asian markets and some specialty foods

DIRECTIONS

In a heavy 1-quart saucepan stir curry powder into about 1 tablespoon coconut milk until dissolved. Stir in 1 teaspoon lime juice, salt, and remaining coconut milk and simmer over moderately low heat 10 minutes, or until thickened.

Remove tough muscle from side of each scallop if necessary. If using sea scallops, cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Add scallops to coconut milk mixture and poach at a bare simmer until just cooked through but still tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat and cool mixture. Transfer scallops with poaching liquid to a small bowl. Scallops may be poached 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.

Cut pears crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick rounds and discard seeds and core. Cut rounds into 1-inch wedges and in a small bowl toss with remaining lime juice. Macerate pears, covered and chilled, at least 15 minutes and up to 3 hours.

Just before serving, cut kumquats crosswise into thin slices and arrange pear wedges, drained, on plates. Top each wedge with 1 kumquat slice, 1 coriander leaf, and 1 piece of scallop coated with poaching liquid.

DIRECTIONS

Chop enough of cucumber to measure 1 cup and in a blender purée with feta, yogurt, and garlic until smooth. Transfer dressing to a bowl and season with pepper and salt. Chill dressing, covered, until cold, about 30 minutes. Dressing may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.

DIRECTIONS

In a sieve set over a bowl drain beets, reserving 1/4 cup juice, and halve beet slices. In a bowl whisk together reserved beet juice and sour cream and season with pepper and salt.

Stir in half of trout, half of dill, beets, cucumber, and onion and season with pepper and salt. Top salad with remaining trout and dill. Chill salad, covered, until cold, about 30 minutes.

DIRECTIONS

In a food processor purée 1/2 cup cucumber with goat cheese, zest, and lemon juice until almost smooth. In a bowl stir together cucumber mixture, remaining cucumber, tarragon, 1 tablespoon onion, and pepper. Spread may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered. Let spread soften and stir it before serving. Sprinkle spread with remaining tablespoon onion.

Serve spread with toasts or crackers.