Garlic Butter Crab Toasts Recipe
Garlic Butter Crab Toasts offer a sophisticated yet simple appetizer or light main course featuring fresh crab meat blended with aromatic garlic butter and fresh herbs, served atop crispy toasted baguette slices. This recipe balances rich buttery flavors with the sweet taste of crab, enhanced by fresh lemon juice and optionally topped with Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of paprika for color.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 toasts 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Crab Mixture
- 1 pound fresh crab meat (preferably from Dungeness or blue crabs)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Toasts
- 1 loaf French baguette, sliced into 1/2-inch slices
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 1 teaspoon paprika (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the Crab Meat: If using fresh crabs, steam them for approximately 10 minutes until the shells turn bright red. Allow to cool before carefully extracting the meat, making sure to remove all shell fragments for safety.
- Prepare the Garlic Butter: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté gently until fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes, taking care not to burn the garlic to preserve its flavor.
- Combine the Crab Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, gently mix the crab meat with the melted garlic butter, fresh lemon juice, chopped parsley, chives, and seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Mix carefully to keep the crab meat intact while allowing it to absorb the flavors.
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for toasting the bread and baking the assembled toasts.
- Prepare and Toast the Baguette: Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet and brush both sides lightly with olive oil. Place in the oven and toast for 5 to 7 minutes until slices are golden brown and crispy around the edges.
- Assemble the Toasts: Remove the toasted baguette slices from the oven, spoon generous amounts of the crab mixture onto each slice, spreading evenly but gently to maintain texture.
- Add Optional Cheese: If desired, sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the crab topping for extra flavor and richness.
- Final Bake: Return the assembled toasts to the oven for an additional 5 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld and the cheese, if added, to melt slightly, enriching the overall taste.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, sprinkle with paprika for a splash of color, and serve immediately while warm and flavorful for the best experience.
Notes
- Use the freshest crab meat possible for superior flavor and texture. Frozen or canned crab can be substituted if fresh is unavailable.
- To make gluten-free toasts, substitute the baguette with your preferred gluten-free bread.
- For vegetarian alternatives, use hearts of palm or artichoke hearts to mimic the crab texture.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days; reheat in the oven at 350°F for 5-10 minutes to restore crispness.
- Customize the crab mixture by adding herbs like dill or tarragon or a dash of red pepper flakes for a mild heat.
Keywords: Garlic Butter Crab Toasts, crab appetizer, seafood toasts, garlic butter crab, elegant seafood appetizer, toasted baguette crab, crab recipe, easy crab toasts
Find it online: https://cookwithlea.com/garlic-butter-crab-toasts-recipe/
