Ingredients

  • 3 stalks fennel, shaved with a mandoline
  • 1 large white onion, diced
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 cup apricot marmalade
  • 1 large red onion, diced fine
  • 1 fresh lime, zest grated and juiced
  • 1 teaspoon stone ground mustard
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 pound cooked Dungeoness crabmeat, picked through to remove remnants of shells
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 loaf French bread, sliced on the diagonal into 16 (1/2-inch) slices and lightly toasted
  • 16 small parsley sprigs, for garnish

Method

  • In a small saucepan, combine shaved fennel, onion, sugar and marmalade and cook for 10 minutes over medium-low heat.
  • Set aside to cool to room temperature
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Combine onion, lime zest and juice, mustard and mayonnaise in a bowl, and then fold crabmeat into the mixture so that it's just combined and the crab is not broken or mashed.
  • Season with salt and pepper, as needed.
  • Arrange bread on a baking sheet.
  • Using a melon baller, or small scoop, spoon seafood mixture onto bread and bake briefly in oven until seafood balls are lightly browned.
  • Garnish crab with marmalade and parsley.