Crispy Crab Claws with Prawn Ravioli and Roasted Crab Broth

Crispy Crab Claws with Prawn Ravioli and Roasted Crab Broth

A sophisticated seafood composition featuring panko-crusted crab claws stuffed with a delicate prawn mousse, served alongside fresh prawn and crab ravioli in a deeply aromatic roasted shell broth.

3hAdvanced4 servings
Remix

Equipment

Heavy roasting pan
Large stockpot
Fine mesh strainer
Food processor
Pasta machine
Deep fryer

Ingredients

4 servings

Roasted Crab Broth

  • 500 g crab shells, rinsed and dried
  • 15 ml olive oil
  • 150 g onion, roughly chopped
  • 100 g fennel bulb, roughly chopped
  • 30 g tomato paste
  • 100 ml dry white wine
  • 1500 ml water, cold

Pasta Dough

  • 200 g type 00 flour
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 1 egg yolk

Prawn and Crab Mousse

  • 300 g raw prawn meat, peeled and deveined
  • 1 egg white
  • 15 g cornstarch
  • 4 g kosher salt
  • 2 g white pepper
  • 150 g cooked crab meat, picked clean of shells
  • 10 g fresh chives, finely chopped

Crab Claws and Coating

  • 8 cooked crab claws, pincer shell intact, lower shell removed exposing meat
  • 50 g all-purpose flour
  • 1 whole egg, beaten
  • 100 g panko breadcrumbs
  • 1000 ml neutral oil, for deep frying

Nutrition (per serving)

Nutrition is estimated per serving. Nutrients without complete source data are omitted.

621
Calories
48g
Protein
78g
Carbohydrates
10g
Fat
5g
Fiber
6g
Sugar
989mg
Sodium
Full nutrition
Calories
621 kcal
Protein
48 g
Carbohydrates
78 g
Fat
10 g
Fiber
5 g
Sugar
6 g
Sodium
989 mg
Saturated Fat
2 g
Trans Fat
0 g
Monounsaturated Fat
5 g
Polyunsaturated Fat
2 g
Cholesterol
386 mg
Potassium
821 mg
Calcium
201 mg
Iron
3.4 mg
Magnesium
96 mg
Phosphorus
560 mg
Zinc
5.6 mg
Vitamin A
109 mcg
Vitamin C
12 mg
Vitamin D
0.9 mcg
Vitamin E
2.8 mg
Vitamin K
19 mcg
Vitamin B6
0.3 mg
Vitamin B12
3.3 mcg
Thiamin
0.14 mg
Riboflavin
0.35 mg
Niacin
3.5 mg
Folate
98 mcg
Water
632 g
Alcohol
3 g

Sources: Aggregated Public Data, USDA FoodData Central

Method

01

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius or 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread the crab shells on a heavy roasting pan and roast until deeply aromatic and browned, about 20 minutes.

20m
02

In a large stockpot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the chopped onion and fennel until softened and lightly caramelized. Add the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes until it darkens.

8m
03

Deglaze the pot with dry white wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Simmer until the wine is reduced by half.

3m
04

Add the roasted crab shells and cold water to the stockpot. Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat and simmer gently for 45 minutes. Skim any foam that rises to the surface.

45m
05

Strain the broth through a fine mesh strainer into a clean pot, pressing gently on the solids to extract liquid. Discard the solids and keep the broth warm.

06

Combine the type 00 flour, whole eggs, and egg yolk to form a dough. Knead vigorously for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Wrap in plastic and rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.

10m
07

In a food processor, blend the raw prawn meat, egg white, cornstarch, kosher salt, and white pepper until it forms a smooth, sticky paste.

2m
08

Divide the prawn paste in half. Fold the picked cooked crab meat and finely chopped chives into one half of the mixture. This is your ravioli filling.

09

Roll the rested pasta dough into thin sheets using a pasta machine. Place small mounds of the ravioli filling spaced evenly along the sheet. Cover with a second sheet, press out all air around the mounds, and cut into individual ravioli. Ensure edges are tightly sealed.

10

Pat the exposed meat of the crab claws dry and dust lightly with flour. Take the remaining half of the smooth prawn paste and mold it around the crab meat, leaving the hard pincer shell exposed to act as a handle.

11

Set up a breading station. Coat the prawn-wrapped portion of each crab claw lightly in flour, dip into the beaten egg, and firmly press into the panko breadcrumbs until completely coated.

12

Heat neutral oil in a deep fryer or heavy pot to 170 degrees Celsius or 340 degrees Fahrenheit. Deep fry the breaded crab claws for 4 to 5 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 74 degrees Celsius or 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Drain on a wire rack.

5mLook for: Deep golden brown and crispy crust
13

Bring a large pot of salted water to a gentle boil. Cook the ravioli for 3 to 4 minutes until they float to the surface and the pasta is tender.

4m
14

Divide the hot, drained ravioli among 4 warm shallow bowls. Pour the hot roasted crab broth over the ravioli. Carefully rest two crispy fried crab claws on top of the ravioli in each bowl, ensuring the crust remains above the liquid line. Serve immediately.

Chef's Notes

  • Always maintain a strict 74C or 165F internal temperature for the stuffed crab claws to ensure the raw prawn mousse is safely cooked.
  • When making the prawn mousse, ensure the prawns are as cold as possible. Chilled proteins emulsify much better, resulting in a bouncier, superior texture.
  • Do not over-reduce the crab stock. Unlike meat stocks, seafood stocks become bitter or muddy if simmered for longer than an hour.
  • Use the pincer of the crab claw as a natural handle for dipping. Keep it clean of breading for an elegant presentation.

Storage

Refrigerator: 1 dayStore components separately. Broth keeps for 3 days.

Freezer: 1 monthUncooked ravioli and un-fried breaded claws can be frozen.

Reheating: Reheat broth gently on the stove. Fry claws directly from frozen or chilled. Boil frozen ravioli an extra 2 minutes.

Troubleshooting

Prawn paste slides off the crab claw during frying

Cause: The exposed crab meat was too wet before applying the paste

Fix: Cannot be fixed once in the fryer. Ensure subsequent claws are dried thoroughly.

Prevention: Thoroughly pat the crab meat dry with paper towels and ensure it is dusted with flour before wrapping

Ravioli burst during boiling

Cause: Air was trapped inside the ravioli during shaping, expanding when heated

Fix: Remove immediately with a slotted spoon to save the filling; serve carefully.

Prevention: Press firmly around the filling to expel all air before sealing the dough edges

Crab broth tastes bitter

Cause: Crab shells were burnt during roasting or broth was boiled too aggressively

Fix: Add a small pinch of sugar or a dash of fresh lemon juice to balance the bitterness.

Prevention: Roast shells until just browned and aromatic. Keep the broth at a gentle simmer, never a rolling boil.

Cultural Context

This dish pays homage to the classic Chinese dim sum preparation of Baihua Xieqian, or stuffed crab claws, which traditionally features prawn paste wrapped around crab meat. Here, it is reimagined in a modern dining context, married with Italian pasta techniques and classic French stock-making to create a cohesive, multi-textural seafood experience.

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