Cranky Cucumber - Crab Napoleon

So originally, this evening, I had planned on Coconut Pecan Baked Chicken. Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans of Mice & Chickens. In the end I made Squash Soup again. This was partly due to the light snow fall that occurred this morning, soup was definitely the ticket. But being, in essence, a vegetable soup, it just wasn't going to be enough "Man Chow".

So, I rummaged through the refrigerator to take stock of what was contained therein. Then I pattered off to the pantry and poked my peepers in, to peruse the non-perishables. Luckily, I had some canned crab. I will tell you right now that this recipe is MUCH better with fresh Dungeness or King Crab, but the canned stuff will work in a pinch.

Though the ingredient list is simple as well as the prep work, the presentation is quite impressive. Thankfully, as impressive as it looks, even the assembly is fairly simple. Much to my chagrin, I was out of white pepper. It's only an aesthetic thing and I think you will see why as we go through the steps. It's a case of wanting pepper flavor, but not wanting to see it.

I am not gonna lie to ya, this really isn't "Man Chow" in any way, shape, or form. This is better served for afternoon tea or as a luncheon item. But it went REALLY well with the soup and it was very tasty, I just ate 2 of them... LOL

Crab Napoleons

2 Hot House Cucumbers
3 TB White Wine Vinegar
Salt and White Pepper
20 oz of Crab Meat
3 TB Crème Fraîche
1 tsp Ginger, Ground
Salt and White Pepper
a small bunch of Cilantro, chopped
3 TB Champagne or Muscat Vinegar
3 TB Extra Virgin Olive oil
Salt and White Pepper

Cut the cucumbers into 9 cm chunks (this is about 3 3/4 inches)

Carefully slice the cucumber into 1 mm slabs. (hopefully, this should yield 24 slabs)

Place White Wine Vinegar in a bowl and season it with Salt and White Pepper (Cause black pepper shows up)

Add the cucumber slabs and marinate for 30 minutes; Turning them over occasionally.

In a bowl, combine Crab meat, Crème Fraîche, Ginger and Salt and White pepper.

When homogeneous, add the chopped cilantro and mix together.

Refrigerate until the Cucumbers are done marinating.
Once the cucumbers are done, assemble a bunch of plates and begin by placing 1 slab down on each plate.

Spoon the crab mixture over the slab and smooth it out, keeping it in a rough rectangle shape to match the cucumber, then lay down another cucumber slab over the top and press lightly.

Continue until you have 3 layers of Cucumber and 3 layers of Crab; then place the final slab on top.

Garnish with a little cucumber skin curl and chill while you make the dressing.
Place Champagne vinegar, Salt, Extra Virgin Olive oil, and White pepper in a small bowl.

Whisk until partially emulsified.

Drizzle it over the Napoleons....

And serve, with Squash Soup, even though there are unsightly bits of black pepper all over everything... LOL

Mangia!!
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