Crab And Cheese: The Perfect Pairing

Crab and cheese is a combination that is often overlooked, but it can be a delicious pairing. From crab mac and cheese to crab melts, there are many ways to incorporate cheese into crab dishes. When it comes to choosing the right cheese to pair with crab, there are several options that can enhance the flavour of the dish. For a rich and buttery taste, heavier cheeses like cheddar, gruyere, and parmesan complement the flavour of crab well. Crab also goes well with Swiss cheese, Pepper Jack, and Monterey Jack.

Crab grilled cheese

Ingredients:

• Crab meat
• Mayonnaise
• Dijon mustard
• Old Bay seasoning
• Pepper
• Green onions
• Gruyere cheese
• Cheddar cheese
• Butter
• Sourdough bread

Optional ingredients:

• Lemon juice
• Cayenne pepper

Method:

• Combine the crab meat, mayonnaise, mustard, Old Bay, pepper, and green onions in a bowl. Mix well and adjust seasoning to taste.
• Add the shredded Gruyere and Cheddar to the crab mixture and mix until everything is coated.
• Sprinkle a little extra Gruyere on two slices of sourdough bread.
• Top each slice of bread with half of the crab mixture.
• Add a little extra Cheddar on top of the crab mixture.
• Place the second slice of bread on top and press gently to stick the sandwich together.
• Melt butter in a large skillet on medium to medium-high heat.
• Once the skillet is hot, add the sandwich and cook until the bread is golden brown.
• Lift the sandwich out of the skillet, melt the rest of the butter, and flip the sandwich so the untoasted side is face down.
• Cook until the cheese is melted and the second side is golden brown.
• Remove from heat, cut in half, and serve.

Tips:

• You can use regular sandwich bread if you don't have sourdough.
• You can butter the bread or the pan, whichever you prefer.
• This is a messy sandwich, so be prepared for some oozing!

Crab mac and cheese

Ingredients:

• Pasta (elbow macaroni, shells, rigatoni, or cavatappi)
• Butter
• Flour
• Milk
• Cheese (cheddar, Gruyere, Parmesan, or Pecorino Romano)
• Crab meat (tinned or fresh)
• Breadcrumbs (optional)
• Spices (nutmeg, chilli flakes, mustard, etc.)

Method:

Start by cooking your pasta in a pot of salted water. Drain the pasta and set it aside.

Next, make a béchamel or cheese sauce by melting butter in a pan. Add flour and whisk together over medium heat for a few minutes until it turns a light golden colour. Then, slowly add milk while whisking continuously. Cook until the sauce has thickened.

Add the cheese to the sauce and stir until it is thoroughly mixed. You can use a combination of cheeses, such as cheddar, Gruyere, Parmesan, or Pecorino Romano.

Open the tins of crab meat and drain the excess water. You can add the crab meat to the sauce or mix it together with the pasta.

In a large bowl, stir the cooked pasta together with the sauce and crab meat until well combined.

Transfer the crab mac and cheese to a baking dish. If desired, sprinkle the top with breadcrumbs for a crunchy topping.

Bake the crab mac and cheese for 30-40 minutes, or until it is bubbly and golden.

Let it cool for a few minutes before serving. This dish can be served as a main course or as a side dish to steak or chicken.

Tips and Variations:

• You can use either tinned or fresh crab meat for this recipe. If using tinned crab, look for tinned dressed crab.
• Feel free to experiment with different types of pasta shapes, such as shells, rigatoni, or cavatappi.
• For a crunchy topping, you can use crushed Ritz crackers mixed with melted butter and Old Bay seasoning instead of breadcrumbs.
• If you want to add some spice, include a pinch of crushed chilli flakes or nutmeg.

Crab dip

Ingredients

• Crabmeat: Use lump crab meat, which comes from the body of the crab. It is usually found in cans. Fresh crab meat is another option, though it is more expensive.
• Cheese: Medium or sharp cheddar cheese is a good option for crab dip. Other cheese options include Gruyere, Parmesan, and cream cheese.
• Spices: Garlic powder, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce are commonly used to add flavour to the dip. You can also add some hot sauce or diced jalapenos to make it spicy.
• Other ingredients: Mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, salt, and pepper are other common ingredients used in crab dip.

Method

The method for making crab dip is quite simple. First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, in a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients except for the crab meat. Stir everything together until it is well combined, and then fold in the lump crab meat.

Next, spread the mixture into a small casserole dish and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until it is heated through and bubbly. Finally, serve the crab dip with a sliced baguette, tortilla chips, crackers, or vegetables like carrots, celery, or cucumber.

Variations

There are several variations you can try when making crab dip. For example, you can add some chopped green onions or fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, or chives. You can also increase the amount of crab in the dip or add some Old Bay seasoning for extra flavour. If you want to make it spicier, add some hot sauce or diced jalapenos.

Crab melts

Ingredients:

• Crab meat (fresh or canned)
• Mayonnaise
• Celery
• Onion
• Garlic powder
• Hot sauce (optional)
• Bread (English muffins, French bread, ciabatta, or sliced bread)
• Cheese (Cheddar, Swiss, Monterey Jack, or Pepper Jack)
• Butter or margarine (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Mustard (optional)
• Red pepper (optional)
• Crème fraîche or sour cream (optional)

Method:

• If desired, toast the bread lightly before adding the toppings. This can help to prevent the bread from becoming soggy and ensure a crisp texture.
• Mix the crab meat with mayonnaise, celery, onion, garlic powder, and hot sauce (if using). You can also add mustard, red pepper, and crème fraîche or sour cream for extra flavour.
• Spread the crab mixture onto the bread.
• Top with shredded or sliced cheese.
• Place the crab melts under a broiler or grill until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
• Serve warm, allowing them to cool slightly as the cheese will be very hot.

Tips and Variations:

• You can use either fresh or canned crab meat for this recipe.
• For a spicier version, add hot sauce to the crab mixture.
• Try different types of bread such as English muffins, French bread, ciabatta, or sliced bread.
• Experiment with different cheeses like Cheddar, Swiss, Monterey Jack, or Pepper Jack.
• If desired, butter the bread before adding the toppings for extra flavour and crispness.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• For a lighter meal, use wholegrain bread or sourdough rye bread.
• Crab melts can be served as an appetizer, light lunch, or brunch. They are also great as finger food for parties.

Seafood risotto

Ingredients

• 2 cups of risotto rice
• 1 litre of fish or vegetable stock
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 100g of butter
• 100g of grated Parmesan cheese
• 200g of white crab meat
• 200g of raw peeled prawns
• 100g of frozen peas
• 2 tbsp of olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method

First, heat the stock in a saucepan and keep it simmering on a low heat. This will form the base of your risotto.

In a separate large pan, heat the olive oil and add the onion. Fry the onion until it is soft and translucent, then add the garlic and fry for another minute. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as this will ruin the dish.

Next, add the rice to the pan and stir well to coat each grain in oil. Fry the rice for a couple of minutes, stirring often, until the edges have turned translucent but the centre remains opaque and white.

Now start adding the stock to the rice, one ladle at a time. Wait until each ladle of stock has been absorbed before adding the next. Continue this process for around 20 minutes, stirring the rice often to prevent it from sticking to the pan.

After 20 minutes, the rice should be almost cooked. At this point, add the crab meat, prawns, and peas to the pan and continue to cook for another 5 minutes, still stirring often and adding stock as necessary.

Finally, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter and grated Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve immediately.

Tips and Variations

Some recipes suggest using a mixture of cheeses in a seafood risotto, such as Gruyere, Parmesan, and Cheddar. Others recommend avoiding cheese altogether, as it may overpower the delicate flavour of the seafood. If you decide to omit the cheese, you could add a squeeze of lemon juice and some fresh black pepper to taste instead.

You can also experiment with different types of seafood, such as lobster, squid, or mussels. Just be sure to cook them thoroughly before adding to the risotto.

Finally, if you want to make your risotto extra creamy, you can stir in a couple of tablespoons of crème fraîche or sour cream at the end. This will give it a richer flavour and a smoother texture.

Frequently asked questions