Description
Succulent christmas delight stuffed shrimp blend Mediterranean flavors with coastal elegance. Guests savor delicate seafood complemented by rich herbal notes and delightful textures you’ll want to share.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (0.45 kilograms) large shrimp (jumbo or colossal)
- 8 oz (226 grams) lump crab meat (checked for shells)
- 10 Ritz crackers, finely crushed (just under ½ cup crumbs)
- 2 tbsps (30 milliliters) melted unsalted butter
- 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp kosher salt (split)
- ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley (extra for garnish)
- Lemon wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Preparation: Remove shrimp shells while keeping tails intact, butterfly each shrimp, and carefully extract the dark digestive tract to ensure pristine seafood quality.
- Oven Setup: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C), establishing the optimal thermal conditions for baking the delicate seafood dish.
- Filling Creation: Combine crab meat, melted butter, crushed Ritz crackers, Old Bay seasoning, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chopped parsley, and kosher salt in a mixing bowl. Blend ingredients thoroughly until a cohesive, flavorful stuffing forms.
- Shrimp Assembly: Lightly season shrimp with salt, then generously stuff each shrimp with the prepared crab mixture, ensuring the filling is securely positioned and evenly distributed.
- Baking Process: Transfer stuffed shrimp to the preheated oven and bake for 13-15 minutes. Monitor until the topping turns golden brown and the shrimp are cooked to perfection, showcasing a delectable maritime masterpiece.
- Serving Presentation: Plate the hot stuffed shrimp immediately, garnishing with fresh parsley sprigs and vibrant lemon wedges to enhance the visual appeal and provide a zesty flavor accent.
Notes
- Prep Precision: Always butterfly shrimp carefully to maintain structural integrity and ensure even cooking.
- Seasoning Strategy: Salt shrimp lightly before stuffing to enhance natural seafood flavor without overpowering the delicate crab mixture.
- Filling Firmness: Pack crab mixture gently but firmly to prevent separation during baking and maintain a cohesive texture.
- Doneness Detection: Watch for golden-brown topping and opaque shrimp color as key indicators of perfect cooking, avoiding overcooking which can make seafood tough.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 302
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 165 mg