Crab-filled Eggplant Relleno

Posted byNoriePosted inRecipe, Seafood, VegetablesTags:, ,
(Tortang Alimasag sa Talong)

Crab omelet is not an uncommon dish.  As a matter of fact, the cooked crabmeat is stuffed in the cleaned crab shells (carapace) and fried as an omelet in the Philippines, much like the method as the Chile Relleno. 

It is called crab cakes or stuffed crabs here in the U.S. but Filipinos don’t put herbs and breading like they do here.  Actually, the herbs they use in making stuffed crabs here in the U.S. are what I don’t like in them when we eat out at a seafood restaurant.  I believe they are chopped thyme and parsley.

I never heard of anybody making crab omelet as filled in eggplants in the Philippines but I may be wrong.   However, it turned out to be very good. I could not resist including it in this book.  It was just a “let me try this” sort of thing but it turned out to be very, very good and so delicious that both my husband and I ate until we could hardly breath, especially him.

To cook the crab meat sauté:

  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • ½ medium onion diced
  • 1 tomato, diced

Add and saute:

  • ½ pint to 1 pint crabmeat (claws or body), store bought or leftovers from boiled crabs, shelled
  • salt and pepper to taste

Beat 2 egg whites until soft peaks form, drop the 2 egg yolks and beat a minute or two.  Fold in the cooled crabmeat with a fork.

Prepare the eggplants:

2 long Asian eggplants

Prepare the eggplants by grilling or placed under the broiler until skins are almost burnt and they feel soft. They have to be turned occasionally. They can also be cooked in the microwave if in a hurry but you are losing the aroma of the burnt skin. Pull the skins off the eggplants after they are cooled being careful not to break them apart reserving the stems.  They should slide off pretty easily. Set on a plate, open one side and flatten with a fork and set aside.

Spread out the eggplant and dip the bottom in the egg mixture.  Lay on a plate or directly in the skillet with hot oil and spoon in the crabmeat with the egg mixture.  Maintain a moderately medium heat.  Fry one side and flip to fry the other side.  Do this in batches.