Bite with Belkys: Crab Cake Eggs Benedict from Council Oak

The Chef: Peter Mavraides
The Restaurant: Council Oak (inside the Seminole Hardrock Hotel & Casino)
The Dish: Crab Cake Eggs Benedict

Ingredients for Crab Cake:

1 lb. of jumbo lump crab meat
1/4 tsp. of cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. of old bay seasoning
1/4 tsp. of worcestershire sauce
4 tsp. of lemon juice
1/2 a yellow pepper, diced
1/2 a red pepper, diced
1/2 a green pepper, diced
1 Tbs of dijion mustard
1 Tbs of mayonnaise
1/4 cup of breadcrumbs
egg white of 6 eggs
1 dash of tabasco
clarified butter or oil (for frying)
6 eggs poached (to plate)

Method of Preparation:

-Start by preparing the crab cake. In a bowl, break up the crab meat to very small pieces. Then, combine it with cayenne pepper, old bay seasoning, worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, yellow pepper, red pepper, green pepper, dijion mustard, mayonnaise and breadcrumbs. Chef Peter likes to use crushed saltine crackers as his breadcrumbs. Next, add egg whites and a dash of tabasco.

-Place the crab cake mix in the fridge for a few minutes, and then shape it into small patties. Fry the crab cakes and finish them off in a 375 degree oven for about five minutes.

Ingredients for Hollandaise Sauce:

8 egg yolks
splash of water
dlarified butter
4 tsp. of lemon juice
one shot of tabasco
kosher salt, to taste
white pepper, to taste

Method of Preparation:

-First, prepare a double boiler. Place a mixing bowl over a pot of boiling water.

-Then, in the mixing bowl add egg yolks with a splash water. Whisk this until it forms a nice thick consistency.

-Next, whisk in clarified butter little by little. After, mix in lemon juice, tabasco, salt and white pepper. Make sure to keep the sauce warm so it does not break apart.

To Plate:

Add a poached egg over the crab cake and coat them with the hollandaise sauce.

Serving Suggestion: Mimosa

Serves: 6

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Note:

Take a printed copy of the recipe to the restaurant and receive a complimentary appetizer after 6 pm. (valid for the month of May 2011. Limit one per guest.)

Council Oak Steaks and Seafood Restaurant
(Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino)
1 Seminole Way
Hollywood, FL 33314
954-327-7501