Siew mai
1kg crab, cooked
1 daikon (white radish)
50g ikura (salmon roe)
1 lemon, zest and juice
3 eggs, hard boiled
extra virgin olive oil
cayenne pepper (optional)
salt and black pepper
micro cress
For the mayonnaise
200g mashed potato
8 egg yolks
10g salt
400ml rapeseed oil
To make the mayonnaise, put the mashed potatoes into a blender, along with the egg yolks and salt. With the blade running, gradually add the rapeseed oil. Season with salt and black pepper and set aside.
Line a large tray with cling film. Peel and thinly slice the daikon into rounds – a Japanese mandolin is ideal for this. Arrange the daikon slices on the tray lined with cling film, season with salt and black pepper and rub each piece with a dot of olive oil. Cover with another layer of cling film and leave to soften for 20-25 minutes, until soft and pliable.
Pick the crabmeat from the legs and squeeze out the excess water. Mix the crabmeat with a couple of tablespoons of the homemade mayonnaise, a little lemon juice and a sprinkling of cayenne pepper (if using).
Pass the hard boiled eggs through a fine colander or sieve.
Place a teaspoonful of crab mixture in the centre of each round of marinated daikon. Press the edges of the circle together, to create the traditional siew mai shape. Garnish with the ikura, the shredded egg and the micro cress. Drizzle over a little extra virgin olive oil and a little lemon zest and serve.
