Crab and Spinach Mornay

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Step 2

   Pick over crab meat carefully to remove and discard pieces of shell or cartilage. Do not break up the pieces of crab; leave them as whole as possible. Set aside.

3. Step 3

   Pick over spinach to remove tough stems or blemished leaves. Rinse well and drain. Set aside.

4. Step 4

   Heat 3 tablespoons butter in a saucepan and add flour, stirring rapidly with a whisk. Add salt, pepper and cayenne. When blended, stir in milk, cream and nutmeg. Let simmer, stirring often from the bottom, about 10 minutes. Add cheese and stir until melted.

5. Step 5

   Put spinach in a deep skillet or casserole without water. Cook, stirring often, until the leaves wilt. Drain. Press or squeeze to extract as much liquid as possible from the leaves. Chop spinach until it is medium fine.

6. Step 6

   Heat remaining tablespoon of butter in a skillet and add 1 tablespoon shallots. Cook briefly, stirring, and add spinach. Add salt and pepper. Spoon mixture into a baking dish (an oval dish measuring 14 by 8 by 2 inches is ideal).

7. Step 7

   Spoon crab into a smaller ovenproof dish and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of chopped shallots. Place in oven and bake 5 minutes. Scatter crab meat over spinach and smooth it to make an even layer. Spoon cheese sauce over all and smooth it over. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese evenly on top.

8. Step 8

   Place dish in oven and bake 10 minutes. Heat broiler. Let broil, leaving the door partly ajar, about 2 minutes or until nicely glazed on top. Serve.