Description
Ina Garten’s fresh crab nachos recipe brings coastal California flavors to your kitchen with elegant simplicity. Crisp tortilla chips loaded with succulent crab meat create an irresistible appetizer you’ll savor with friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) fresh jumbo lump crabmeat
- 6 oz (170 g) freshly grated extra-sharp white cheddar
- 6 oz (170 g) freshly grated monterey jack
- 6 oz (170 g) cream cheese, at room temperature
- ½ cup (120 ml) good mayonnaise, such as hellmann’s
- ¼ cup (60 ml) sour cream
- 1 large ripe hass avocado, pitted, peeled, and ⅓-inch (0.8 cm) diced
- 5 large plum tomatoes, seeded, cored, and small-diced
- 1 cup (150 g) minced yellow onion
- ¾ cup (90 g) minced scallions, white and green parts (4 to 5 scallions)
- 1 (4 oz/115 g) can diced green chiles
- 4 oz (115 g) canned pickled jalapeño pepper slices, drained
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) minced fresh jalapeño pepper, seeds removed
- 12 oz (340 g) sturdy yellow corn chips, such as garden of eatin’
- Grated zest of 1 lime
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) with the rack centered, creating optimal heat distribution for golden, crispy nachos.
- Crab Mixture: Whisk cream cheese, mayonnaise, and sour cream into a luxurious base. Gently fold in crabmeat, scallions, chiles, lime zest, salt, and black pepper, crafting a vibrant, creamy filling that promises rich, oceanic flavors.
- Layering Foundation: Strategically arrange the first layer of corn chips across an ovenproof platter. Spread half the crab mixture evenly, then cascade Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Sprinkle pickled jalapeños to introduce a tangy, spicy dimension.
- Secondary Layer: Construct a second chip tier, mirroring the previous layer with remaining crab mixture and cheeses, building a multi-dimensional nacho landscape that promises textural complexity.
- Baking Process: Slide the nachos into the preheated oven, allowing 20-30 minutes for the cheese to transform into a molten, golden canopy that blankets the ingredients with irresistible allure.
- Fresh Topping: While nachos bake, compose a zesty garnish by combining diced tomatoes, onion, jalapeño pepper, lime juice, olive oil, avocado, parsley, and a whisper of salt – creating a bright, fresh counterpoint to the rich nachos.
- Serving: Retrieve nachos from the oven, immediately crown with the fresh topping, finish with a lime juice flourish, and serve immediately to capture maximum flavor and textural contrast.
Notes
- Master Cheese Melting: Use room temperature cheeses for smooth, even melting that prevents clumping and creates a luxurious golden blanket.
- Crab Quality Control: Select fresh, high-quality lump crabmeat to ensure a delicate, sweet flavor that elevates the entire nacho experience.
- Layering Strategy: Build multiple thin layers instead of one thick layer to guarantee every chip gets maximum topping coverage and crispy texture.
- Temperature Timing: Remove nachos precisely when cheese bubbles and edges turn golden to prevent burning and maintain perfect crunch-to-melt ratio.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 365
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg