Description
Ina Garten’s crab stuffed mushrooms blend rich, creamy cheese with delicate crab meat in elegant appetizer bites. Guests will savor these luxurious morsels that showcase classic coastal flavors with sophisticated simplicity.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (226 g) lump crabmeat
- 24 large cremini mushrooms
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 4 tbsps (56 g) melted butter (divided)
- 20 butter crackers (such as Ritz)
- ½ cup (75 g) finely chopped celery
- ½ cup (75 g) finely chopped red bell pepper
- ½ cup (60 g) chopped scallions
- ¼ cup (15 g) chopped parsley
- 1 chopped garlic clove
- 2 tbsps mayonnaise
- ¼ cup (25 g) grated parmesan
- ¼ cup (30 g) cracker crumbs
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 425°F. Remove mushroom stems and clean caps with a damp paper towel. Drizzle olive oil and season with salt. Arrange mushrooms on a baking sheet.
- Cracker Coating: Crush butter crackers into fine crumbs and mix with melted butter to create a uniform coating mixture.
- Vegetable Foundation: Sauté celery and red bell pepper in butter over medium heat until tender. Add garlic and cook briefly to release aromatic flavors. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Crab Mixture: In a large bowl, blend cream cheese and mayonnaise. Fold in scallions, parmesan, cracker crumbs, parsley, lemon zest, and juice. Gently incorporate sautéed vegetables and lump crabmeat, maintaining a light texture.
- Baking Process: Fill mushroom caps generously with crab mixture. Top with remaining cracker crumbs for added crispness. Bake for 12-15 minutes until heated through. Activate broiler and cook until surface turns golden brown. Rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and prevent potential burning.
Notes
- Mushroom Selection: Choose fresh, firm cremini mushrooms with intact, unblemished caps for the best texture and appearance.
- Cracker Crumb Tip: Use butter crackers for a rich, buttery flavor that complements the delicate crab meat perfectly.
- Moisture Management: Pat mushroom caps dry before oiling to ensure a crispy exterior and prevent soggy results.
- Broiling Caution: Watch carefully during the final broiling stage to achieve a golden-brown top without burning the delicate crab filling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg