Parsnip soup with mini crab beignets

Ingredients

For the parsnip soup
  • 50g/2oz butter
  • 500g/1lb 2oz parsnips, peeled, roughly chopped
  • 2 banana shallots, roughly chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 2 fresh thyme sprigs, leaves only
  • ½ tsp curry powder
  • 750ml/1pt 7fl oz chicken stock
  • 75ml/3fl oz double cream, plus extra to garnish
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the mini crab beignets
  • vegetable oil, for frying
  • 125ml/4½fl oz water
  • 50g/2oz butter, diced
  • 75g/3oz plain flour
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 free-range eggs
  • 75g/3oz white crabmeat
  • 25g/1oz brown crabmeat
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
To serve
  • 2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp fresh coriander cress
  • 1 tbsp flaked almonds, toasted

Preparation method

  1. For the soup, melt half of the butter in a large saucepan until foaming. Add the parsnips and fry for 4-5 minutes, or until pale golden-brown.

  2. Add the shallots, garlic and thyme and fry for 2-3 minutes, then stir in the curry powder and fry for another minute.

  3. Pour in the chicken stock and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the parsnips are tender.

  4. Add the double cream, cool the soup slightly and blend the soup in a blender until smooth.

  5. Strain the soup through a sieve into a clean saucepan and season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Whisk in the remaining butter.

  6. For the mini crab beignets, heat the oil in a deep-fat fryer to 180C/350F. Alternatively, heat the oil in a deep heavy-based frying pan until a breadcrumb sizzles and turns brown when dropped into it. (CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.)

  7. Heat the water and butter in a saucepan until the mixture boils, then boil for another minute.

  8. Remove the pan from the heat and beat in the flour and cayenne with a wooden spoon until smooth, or until the mixture comes away from the side of the pan. Return the pan to the heat and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously.

  9. Remove the pan from the heat and beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating well before adding the other egg.

  10. Stir in the white and brown crabmeat until well combined, then season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

  11. Spoon the mixture into a piping bag and pipe 1.5cm/½in long sections into the oil and fry for 1-2 minutes, or until golden-brown and crisp. Remove the beignets from the pan with a slotted spoon, set aside to drain on kitchen paper and season with salt.

  12. To serve, ladle the soup into soup bowls, scatter over some crab beignet and finish with a swirl of double cream. Drizzle the soup with olive oil and sprinkle over the coriander cress and flaked almonds.

James Martin recipes from Saturday Kitchen Best Bites

Less than 30 mins preparation time

30 mins to 1 hour cooking time

Serves 4

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