Antillean Crab Pilaf
- 24 ounces crabmeat
- 1 lime, quartered
- 1/3 cup cooking oil
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 scallions, cleaned and finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 2 sprigs parsley, finely chopped
- 3 cups celery leaves, finely chopped
- 3 3 cups fish or 3 cups vegetable stock
- 4 sprigs thyme
- 1 whole fresh scotch bonnet pepper (chilli)
- 2 bay leaves
- salt, and freshly ground
- pepper
- 1 1/2 lbs rice
- To assemble the matete, in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat the oil over a medium heat, and add the oil. Lightly fry the smoked ham hock for about 5 minutes, just to quickly seal and color the outside.
- Remove the meat and set aside.
- To the remaining hot oil, add the scallions, garlic, the claws, and the crab .
- Scoop the contents of each shell, including crab juices, into the saucepan (this is what permeates the dish with that wonderful crab taste).
- Add the parsley, celery leaves, water, thyme, chile, bay leaves, and the fried smoked ham hock.
- Stir the mixture, taking care not to crush the chile.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Bring to a boil and add the rice. Stir again to mix.
- Lower the heat and cover. Simmer slowly until the rice is soft and cooked and all the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Remove the chile.
- To serve, arrange the matete on a large serving platter, taking care to display some crab throughout. Serve hot -- the aroma alone will drive you nuts!
crabmeat, lime, cooking oil, oil, scallions, garlic, parsley, celery, fish, thyme, fresh scotch bonnet pepper, bay leaves, salt, pepper, rice
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/antillean-crab-pilaf-372848 (may not work)