Indulge in a delectable journey of flavors with our creamy crab au gratin, a dish that harmonizes the richness of crab with a velvety cheese sauce and a crispy breadcrumb topping. Embark on a culinary adventure as we guide you through three enticing recipes, catering to various dietary preferences and skill levels. Immerse yourself in the classic experience of our traditional crab au gratin, featuring succulent crab meat enveloped in a luscious cheese sauce and crowned with a golden-brown breadcrumb crust. For a healthier alternative, explore our lightened-up crab au gratin, which artfully blends reduced-fat cheese and nonfat milk to create a guilt-free indulgence. Vegetarian enthusiasts will delight in our innovative crabless au gratin, a plant-based rendition that captures the essence of the dish using hearty vegetables and a creamy white sauce. Prepare to tantalize your taste buds with this trio of crab au gratin recipes, each offering a unique symphony of flavors and textures that will leave you craving for more.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
CRAB AU GRATIN SPREAD
For a warm and winning appetizer, Suzanne Zick of Maiden, North Carolina serves this special cracker spread. It's rich tasting and easy to whip up with convenient canned crab.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Appetizers
Time 35m
Yield about 2 cups.
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Stir in the flour, salt and paprika until smooth. Gradually add the cream, milk and wine. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in the crab, mushrooms and chives; heat through. Stir in cheese just until melted., Transfer to a greased shallow 1-qt. baking dish. Melt remaining butter; toss with bread crumbs. Sprinkle over crab mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 10-15 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand for 5 minutes. Serve with crackers.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 64 calories, Fat 4g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 22mg cholesterol, Sodium 185mg sodium, Carbohydrate 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 4g protein.
CREAMY CRAB AU GRATIN
Red pepper sauce adds a little kick to a creamy crab mixture topped with crunchy bread crumbs.
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Dinner
Time 30m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Heat oven to 400°F. Lightly spray 11x7-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
- Spray 3-quart saucepan with cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Cook mushrooms and celery in saucepan about 4 minutes, stirring constantly, until celery is tender. Stir in broth. Heat to boiling; reduce heat.
- In small bowl, beat half-and-half, flour and pepper sauce with wire whisk until smooth; stir into vegetable mixture. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in crabmeat.
- Spoon crabmeat mixture into baking dish. Top with bread crumbs. Bake uncovered about 15 minutes or until heated through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 285, Carbohydrate 22 g, Cholesterol 60 mg, Fiber 1 g, Protein 23 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 1580 mg
NEW ORLEANS CRABMEAT AU GRATIN
This is such a good dish. I would order this every time we went to Don's Seafood Hut in Lafayette....still do when I go home to visit. I have tried many recipes, and this is the closest I can come to theirs. This is a collaboration of many different recipes I have tried.
Provided by SkinnyMinnie
Categories Crab
Time 30m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375ºF.
- In a medium heavy bottomed saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the onions and garlic; sauté for 3-5 min or until vegetables are wilted. Be careful not to brown.
- Sprinkle in the flour, blending well into the mixture.
- Using a wire whisk, add the hot cream into the saucepan, stirring constantly until thick cream sauce is achieved.
- Reduce heat to a simmer.
- Add the white wine, lemon juice, nutmeg, and hot sauce, stir to combine.
- Sprinkle in half of the Cheddar cheese, stirring the mixture constantly.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. If mixture becomes too thick, add a small amount of hot water or whipping cream.
- Place equal parts of the crabmeat in the bottom of 6 au gratin dishes, top with sauce-enough to cover and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
- Bake for 10 min or until cheese is bubbly.
- OR.
- Spread crabmeat on the bottom of an 8-inch baking dish, top with sauce, and sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
- Bake for 30 min or until cheese is bubbly and melted.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 835.7, Fat 77.1, SaturatedFat 47.8, Cholesterol 317.9, Sodium 623.6, Carbohydrate 9.5, Fiber 0.3, Sugar 0.8, Protein 27.5
CRAB AU GRATIN
Lovely dish with the addition of carrot, celery and red bell peppers for color and taste. Serve with crusty French Bread or as suggested below in Variation. Make a delicious lunch or first course.
Provided by Caroline Cooks
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 14m
Yield 2 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat broiler.
- In a small heavy saucepan cook carrot, celery, and bell pepper in butter over moderate heat, stirring, 1 minute.
- Add broth, wine, and tarragon and boil mixture until liquid is reduced to about 1 tablespoon.
- Add cream, ¼ cup Parmesan, and boil sauce until thickened, 1- 2 minutes.
- Stir in crab meat, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste and divide mixture between two 1-cup shallow baking dishes.
- Sprinkle remaining Parmesan over mixture and set dishes in shallow baking pan.
- Broil gratin about 4" from heat 2 minutes, or until bubbling and golden, and serve with toasts.
- Serve with thinly sliced French bread, lightly toasted.
- Variation: Using Portabello Mushrooms: Remove gills and broil (gill side down) about 2 minutes. With gill side up fill with mixture and return to broiler until golden on top.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 369.2, Fat 33, SaturatedFat 20.3, Cholesterol 111.4, Sodium 481.9, Carbohydrate 5, Fiber 0.5, Sugar 1.6, Protein 9.2
Tips:
- Choose Fresh Ingredients: For the best results, use fresh crab meat, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese. Fresh ingredients will give your crab au gratin a richer flavor and a more delicate texture.
- Don't Overcook the Crab: Crab meat cooks quickly, so be careful not to overcook it. Overcooked crab will become tough and rubbery.
- Use a Variety of Cheeses: Feel free to experiment with different types of cheeses in your crab au gratin. A combination of Parmesan, Gruyère, and Cheddar cheeses works well.
- Season to Taste: Be sure to taste your crab au gratin before serving and adjust the seasonings as needed. You may want to add more salt, pepper, or cayenne pepper.
- Serve Immediately: Crab au gratin is best served immediately after it is baked. The casserole will start to lose its crispy topping as it cools.
Conclusion:
Crab au gratin is a delicious and elegant dish that is perfect for any occasion. With its creamy, cheesy sauce and tender crab meat, this casserole is sure to be a hit with your family and friends. So next time you're looking for a special dish to serve, give crab au gratin a try. You won't be disappointed!
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