Description
Creamy crab and shrimp casserole brings coastal comfort to dinner tables, melding seafood traditions with hearty ingredients. Seafood enthusiasts will savor this rich, satisfying dish that delivers complex flavors in one delightful pan.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 1 lb (454 g) crabmeat (fresh or canned)
- 1 cup (150 g) celery (diced)
- ½ cup (75 g) onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tbsps (30 g) butter (for the sauce)
- 2 tbsps (15 g) all-purpose flour (for the roux)
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk
- ½ cup (120 ml) mayonnaise
- 1 cup (100 g) sharp cheddar cheese (grated)
- ½ cup (60 g) breadcrumbs (for topping)
- 1 pinch salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1 tbsp (4 g) fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Ignite the oven to a precise 350°F (175°C), creating an optimal thermal landscape for culinary transformation.
- Seafood Symphony: In a generous mixing bowl, orchestrate a harmonious blend of succulent shrimp, delicate crabmeat, crisp celery, aromatic onion, and pungent garlic, intertwining their unique characteristics into a cohesive maritime ensemble.
- Sauce Crafting: Melt butter in a saucepan, introducing flour and cooking until achieving a golden, frothy roux. Gradually stream milk, whisking with precision to forge a silky, luminous sauce free from lumpy imperfections.
- Flavor Fusion: Withdraw sauce from heat, incorporating mayonnaise, sharp cheddar, and nuanced seasonings, transforming the liquid into a rich, complex binding agent that elevates the seafood’s inherent qualities.
- Assemblage: Gently fold seafood into the creamy sauce, ensuring each morsel becomes thoroughly enrobed in the luxurious mixture, creating a unified culinary composition.
- Baking Preparation: Seamlessly transfer the maritime medley into a thoroughly greased baking vessel, distributing evenly to establish a consistent layer that promises uniform cooking.
- Textural Enhancement: Dust the surface with a delicate breadcrumb veil, promising a crisp, golden crown that will provide tantalizing textural contrast.
- Thermal Transformation: Position the casserole in the preheated oven, allowing approximately 30 minutes for the ingredients to meld and the surface to metamorphose into a bubbling, amber-hued landscape.
- Resting Phase: Extract the casserole, permitting a brief interlude that allows flavors to harmonize and intensify, creating a more profound gustatory experience.
- Presentation: Adorn with freshly chopped parsley, introducing a vibrant verdant accent, and serve immediately alongside complementary accompaniments.
Notes
- Seafood Selection: Choose fresh, high-quality crab and shrimp for the best flavor and texture, avoiding frozen or previously frozen seafood if possible.
- Sauce Smoothness: Whisk the sauce continuously and slowly add milk to prevent lumpy textures, creating a silky-smooth base for the casserole.
- Breadcrumb Tip: Use panko breadcrumbs for an extra crispy, light golden topping that adds delightful crunch to the dish.
- Resting Importance: Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes after baking to allow flavors to meld and make serving easier without falling apart.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg