Seasonal Recipes and Whats in Season in SEPTEMBER | Essex Gourmet Seasonal Food Guide

Warm Salad of Samphire, Asparagus and Crab

Marsh samphire, also known as glasswort or poor mans asparagus, is a fleshy-leaved green plant that grows on seaside marshes. It has a sea-salty flavour and a firm, crisp texture. It can be used fresh in salads or served with fish, simply boiled and tossed in melted butter. The following is another of Rick Steins and is a truly tasty recipe utilising the best of May's seasonal ingredients – Enjoy.

Rating :

Currently 3.57/5
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3.6/5 (7 votes cast)

Serves: 4

Preparation Time: 10 - 15 mins

Cooking Time: 5 mins

Ingredients:

1 x 1.25 - 1.5kg/2¾ - 3lb Cooked brown crab
350g/12oz Thin asparagus
225g/8oz Samphire, picked over and washed
¼ Garlic clove, finely chopped
2 tbsp/1fl oz/30ml Extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for serving
Juice of ¼ lemon/2tsps
1 tbsp Chopped flat-leaf parsley
Sea salt flakes
A few parmesan shavings, to garnish

Method :

1. Remove the meat from the crab.

2. Snap off the woody ends from the asparagus where they break naturally and discard them. Cut the asparagus stalks in half. Break off and discard the woody ends of the samphire and break the rest into 2.5cm/1inch pieces.

3. Bring a pan of water to the boil. Add the samphire and asparagus and cook for one minute. Drain and refresh under cold water to stop them cooking and help set the colour. Drain well once more and then tip into a bowl. Add the garlic, olive oil and lemon juice, toss together lightly and season to taste if necessary.

4. Divide the asparagus and samphire between 4 plates and arrange pieces of the white crab meat and a little of the brown meat over the top. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley, drizzle over a little more olive oil and season with a few sea salt flakes. Scatter over the parmesan shavings and serve.

Tip :

Samphire may be quite difficult to source, your best bet is a good fishmongers. Ideally you could pick your own at low tide from shorelines or marshy shallows – don’t forget your wellies.

Recommended Wine Match :

Viognier from France or Australia ...

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