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Crab and langoustine bisque with crispy crab wontons

Preparation time
less than 30 mins

Cooking time
30 mins to 1 hour

Serves
Serves 2

By Glynn Purnell
From Saturday Kitchen

Ingredients

For the bisque

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 stick celery, finely chopped
  • ½ leek, washed and finely chopped
  • 1 red pepper, deseeded and finely chopped
  • 3 medium tomatoes, finely chopped
  • ½ bulb fennel, finely chopped
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 6 peppercorns
  • 1 thyme spring
  • 1 tsp coriander seeds
  • 500g/1lb 2oz mix of crab and langoustine heads and shells
  • 1 tbsp tomato purée
  • 12 tbsp white rice
  • 175ml/6fl oz brandy
  • 1 litre/1¾ pints crab or fish stock
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp crème fraîche, to serve

For the wontons

  • vegetable oil, for deep-frying
  • 120g/4½oz white crab meat
  • 1 chilli, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp chopped chives
  • squeeze lime juice
  • 1 free-range egg, beaten
  • 6 wonton wrappers

Method

  1. To make the bisque, heat the oil in a large saucepan and cook the carrot, onion, celery and leek over a low heat for 5–7 minutes. Add the pepper, tomatoes, fennel, bay leaf, peppercorns, thyme and coriander seeds.

  2. Crush the crab and langoustine shells and add to the pan with the tomato purée and rice. Add the brandy and flambé. (CAUTION: Keep your face and hair away from the flames. Do not leave unattended.)

  3. Pour over the stock and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and pass through a fine sieve into a clean pan. Simmer until the volume of the liquid has reduced by two thirds and the bisque is thick.

  4. Fill a deep-fat fryer or a large, deep, heavy-bottomed pan two-thirds full with the oil. Heat to 175C (a cube of bread should turn brown in one minute when dropped in.) CAUTION: Hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.

  5. To make the wontons, mix the crab meat with the chilli, chives and lime juice.

  6. Egg wash the edges of each wonton wrapper. Divide the crab mixture between each wonton and seal.

  7. Deep-fry the wontons for 5 minutes until golden-brown. Drain the wontons on kitchen paper and serve alongside the bisque in bowls topped with a spoonful of crème fraîche.

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