Crab Beignets with Creole Mustard Sauce
 
Makes about 32
Ingredients
  • 1 cup mascarpone cheese
  • ⅓ cup finely chopped shallot
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning*
  • 1 pound lump crabmeat, drained and picked free of shell
  • 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1¼ cups amber lager beer*
  • Canola oil, for frying
  • Creole Mustard Sauce (recipe follows)
Creole Mustard Sauce
  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons Creole mustard
  • 2 tablespoons half-and-half or milk
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup finely chopped cooked bacon (about 4 slices)
Instructions
  1. In a small bowl, stir together mascarpone, shallot, thyme, and Creole seasoning. Gently stir in crab. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. (Mixture can be made 1 day ahead.)
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Whisk in beer until smooth. (Batter will be thick.)
  3. In a Dutch oven, pour oil to a depth of 2 inches, and heat over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350°.
  4. Working in batches, shape crab mixture into 1-tablespoon balls, and using 2 forks, gently roll balls in batter to coat completely.
  5. Fry beignets in batches, turning occasionally, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Let drain on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Serve hot with Creole Mustard Sauce.
Creole Mustard Sauce
  1. In a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, half-and-half or milk, lemon juice, and pepper. Stir in bacon. Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
Recipe by Louisiana Cookin' at https://louisianacookin.com/crab-beignets-creole-mustard-sauce/