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Red king crab with polenta and wild garlic

Red king crab with polenta and wild garlic is built on Wild Garlic Leaves Finely Chopped, Caster Sugar, Olive Oil, and Wild Garlic Stems Roughly Chopped. Keep it handy for the next time you cook it.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp
• 1 pinch
• 1 tbsp
• 1 tbsp
• 2 tbsp
• 2 tbsp
• 2 tbsp
• 2 tbsp

Method (preview)

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 140C/275F/Gas 1. Line a baking tray with parchment.

2. 2

   For the candied tomatoes, place the tomatoes onto the lined tray and scatter over the garlic, thyme, wild garlic, sugar and olive oil.

3. 3

   Bake for two hours – checking occasionally that they have not dried out too much.

4. 4

   Remove from the oven and set aside – they can be stored in jar topped up with olive oil for two weeks in the fridge.

5. 5

   For the bisque, heat a frying pan until hot, add the olive oil and the crab shell and sauté for a few minutes until golden, then add a knob of butter and the onion, carrot, celery, garlic stems, tarragon and pinch of cayenne and sauté for two minutes.

6. 6

   Add the brandy and flambé (CAUTION: Keep hair and face well away from the flames.

7. 7

   Do not leave unattended.).

8. 8

   Add the tomato paste and seeds and cook for two minutes.

9. 9

   Add the wine and cook until the volume of the liquid is reduced by three-quarters and just coating the bottom of the pan.

10. 10

    Add the water and bring to a gentle simmer for 25 minutes. Add the double cream and cook for another 10 minutes.

11. 11

    Strain into a clean saucepan then place back on the heat, stirring in the crème fraîche.

12. 12

    Return to a simmer and cook until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

13. 13

    Gently fry the butter, olive oil, shallots and wild garlic in a saucepan over a medium heat for one minute until the shallots are just softened.

14. 14

    Add the milk and water and bring to a simmer then add the polenta and whisk constantly for 1½-2 minutes, until thickened.

15. 15

    Pour onto the lined tray and allow to cool. Then place in the fridge for 10 minutes or until set.

16. 16

    When set, remove from the cling film and cut the polenta into 3cm x 10cm/1¼in x 4in fingers.

17. 17

    Heat a frying pan until medium hot, add the olive oil and fry the polenta fingers on each side until golden brown and slightly crisp.

18. 18

    Set aside to drain on kitchen paper.

19. 19

    Cover a microwaveable plate with heatproof cling film then lay the wild garlic leaves on top and cover with more cling film.

20. 20

    Place in the microwave and cook on high for two minutes.

21. 21

    Remove and allow to cool for one minute, then peel off the cling film and remove the leaf – it will be crisp.

22. 22

    Place some parchment paper onto a microwaveable plate and pile the parmesan into four lines across the plate.

23. 23

    Place in the microwave and cook on high for 30 seconds until the cheese has melted and turned slightly crispy – return to the microwave and cook for another 10 seconds if it’s not melted.

24. 24

    Heat a frying pan until hot, add the butter and olive oil and the crab, presentation side down, and fry for 1½ minutes on each side.

25. 25

    To serve, divide the polenta equally among four plates, placing in the centre. Place two pieces of tomato below the polenta.

26. 26

    Cut four of the crab loins into three pieces each and place above the polenta.