Creamy Crab Canapés with Lemon and Caviar

Salmon and whitefish caviar make good, inexpensive alternatives to extravagant osetra and sevruga.Plus: More Appetizer Recipes and Tips

Yield:
32 canapes
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • Eight 1/4-inch slices of brioche or challah

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  • 1/2 pound lump crabmeat, picked over

  • 1 tablespoon chopped chives, plus 1-inch chive pieces for garnish

  • 1 teaspoon minced shallot

  • 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

  • Pinch of salt

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

  • 2 ounces caviar

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Using a 1 1/2-inch round biscuit cutter, cut out 4 rounds from each brioche slice. Butter both sides of the rounds. Set them on a baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes, or until golden and crisp.

  2. In a medium bowl, combine the crabmeat with the chopped chives, shallot, lemon zest and salt. Whip the cream until firm. Gently fold the cream into the crab. Spoon the crab mixture onto the croutons. Garnish with the caviar and 1-inch chive pieces and serve immediately.

Make Ahead

The croutons can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Suggested Pairing

Start a celebratory dinner with a glass of Champagne.

Originally appeared: February 1999

Related Articles