Both the crab cakes and jam can be made ahead of time and gently warmed prior to serving.  Served as tiny bite-sized treats, dinner or cocktail party guests will love these crab cakes.  In a larger form, they made a wonderful component of a main meal.

The Famous French Room Crab Cake with Tomato Jam

Tomato Jam

• 6 very ripe tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 2 tablespoons sugar

Crab Cake

• 2 scallions, chopped, sautéed and chilled
• 1/4 pound 16/20 count Panama Bay Shrimp, deveined and dried
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
• 1 egg
• 1/2 quart heavy cream
• 1/4 pound jumbo lump crabmeat, cleaned

To make the tomato jam, you will need a pot of boiling water big enough to hold the six tomatoes, some tongs, and a bowl of ice also large enough to hold the six tomatoes.

With a knife, make a shallow cut in one end of the tomatoes.  Place the tomatoes carefully in the boiling water and boil until the skin starts to peel off (approximately one minute).  Remove and place the tomatoes in the ice water.  When cool, peel the tomatoes, slice in half (widthwise) and squeeze out the seeds.  Chop the tomatoes--just a rough chop because we will be cooking them and pureeing them anyway.  Place in a saucepan.  Add all of the remaining ingredients and cook over low to medium heat, being careful not to burn them.  It should take about 45 minutes to cook to a sweet and flavorful “jam.”  You can puree in a food processor or just push it through a strainer with a rubber spatula.  Hold warm.

Use ring molds 1-1/2 inches across.  For a less molded look, form the cakes by scooping them with a large spoon.  Combine all of the ingredients, except the scallions, crab, and heavy cream.  In a food processor that is very cold, puree the shrimp mix.  When the mix is smooth, use a spatula and scrape the sides of the bowl then puree again.  While pureeing this second time, drizzle in the cream slowly to prevent the mixture from breaking.  Scrape the sides of bowl to ensure a smooth mixture.  Puree again.  Remember to never let the food processor get warm from friction.  Everything is kept cold so the mixture will stay together; if it gets too warm . . . forget about it!

When the mixture is smooth, remove to a chilled bowl and fold in crab and the pre-sautéed scallions.  Scoop into desired ring molds or directly onto a sheet tray.  Chill.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

A good option is to make bite-size crab cakes by baking them gently in mini muffin tins or mini flexi molds.  Both work great.  Serve with tomato jam.

Serves 4

About The French Room

Imagine dining on sumptuous French cuisine under an 18-foot domed ceiling adorned with frescoes. Hand-blown crystal chandeliers and gilt sconces cast their glow upon your table for the perfect mood lighting. If ever there was a restaurant that made you feel like royalty, this is it. The Adolphus hotel's crown jewel, the award-winning Dallas French Room restaurant offers a rare dining experience where ambiance and cuisine combine to create an epicurean delight.  Executive Chef Jason C. Weaver bringing with him over a decade of fine dining preparation and execution at some of America’s top hotels and restaurants.

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