Roasted Cauliflower, King Crab Butter, Almonds, and Tarragon

In a food processor, blend crab, crab shells, butter, and tomato paste until smooth. Transfer to a medium pot and bring to simmer. Cook over low heat for 30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to prevent scorching. Strain through a chinois into a small pot. Bring to simmer and cook 15 minutes. Using a mesh strainer, skim milk solids from surface to help clarify the butter. Strain butter through a cheesecloth, transfer to a container, cover, and refrigerate.

In a medium pot over medium-high heat, sweat cauliflower in butter, making sure no color develops on cauliflower. Season with salt and pepper. Add half and half and simmer until cauliflower is very tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and transfer cauliflower to a Vita-Prep, reserving cooking liquid. Blend on high, slowly adding cooking liquid until the purée is thick. Season with salt and pepper; keep warm.

Heat oven to 325°F. In a sauté pan over high heat, melt 1 spoonful of King Crab Butter. When the butter is hot, place cauliflower florets, stem side up, in the butter. Sauté cauliflower 1 minute, careful not to get too much color. Add remaining Crab Butter to pan, along with thyme and garlic. Allow butter to foam, then baste cauliflower for 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Flip cauliflower, stem side down, and transfer pan to oven. Roast until cauliflower is tender on the stem and golden on the floret, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove cauliflower from pan and place on resting rack to cool slightly. Add almonds to pan and toast until golden. In a bowl, mix crab meat, lemon juice, and a spoonful of hot crab butter from pan; keep warm. In a bowl, dress cauliflower shavings with olive oil and lemon juice. On a serving plate, spoon Cauliflower Purée and place roasted cauliflower on top. Transfer crab from mixing bowl onto a tray so butter does not run on a plate. Arrange crab on plate and garnish with almonds. Garnish with cauliflower shavings and tarragon leaves. Finish with a drizzle of crab butter and lemon juice.