Baked Seafood Dip with Crab, Shrimp, and Veggies

• Seafood

  • 4 oz Lump crab meat, quality
  • 1/2 lb Shrimp, fresh raw

• Produce

  • 1/4 cup Celery
  • 3 cloves Garlic
  • 1/2 cup Green bell pepper
  • 1 tbsp Jalapeno
  • 1/2 cup Onion
  • 1/4 tsp Parsley
  • 1/2 cup Spinach

• Baking & Spices

  • 1 tsp Old bay seasoning blend
  • 1 Paprika
  • 1 pinch Red pepper flakes [optional

• Dairy

  • 1 tbsp Butter
  • 3 oz Cream cheese
  • 2 1/2 cups Gouda cheese [not, smoked
  • 1/2 cup Gruyere cheese

• Other

  • Did I mention this entire dish is made in one pan? Let's do this!

Found on peasandcrayons.com

Description

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb fresh/defrosted raw shrimp
• 4 ounces quality* lump crab meat, shredded
• 1-2 TBSP butter
• 1/2 cup onion, finely diced
• 1/2 cup green bell pepper, finely diced
• 1/4 cup celery, finely diced [optional]
• 1 TBSP jalapeno, minced
• 1/2 cup chopped spinach
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced and smashed into 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning blend
• 3-4 ounces cream cheese
• 2.5-3 cups freshly grated Gouda cheese [not smoked]
• 1/2 cup Gruyere cheese
• a pinch of red pepper flakes [optional]
• 1/4 tsp chopped parsley
• paprika, to taste
• *I used to always make my crab dips and dishes with canned crab meat. Recently I took the leap and headed to my seafood counter and found that my local store has their own brand of jumbo lump crab and [bonus!] it goes on sale quite frequently. Using this fresher option has made a huge difference! The crab is juicy, tender, and full of flavor!
• Did I mention this entire dish is made in one pan? Lets do this!

Directions

• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Prep shrimp and crab as needed by defrosting, cleaning, peeling and deveining your shrimp and shredding your crab. If you need a shrimp prep guide, I have some photos and mini tutorial [here ] You can also buy yours already cleaned and shelled for ease of use! Whatever you do, skip the pre-cooked stuff; the texture always seems to be off. Once prepped, chop the raw shrimp and set aside.
• Next chop your veggies finely, so theyll mix seamlessly into the dip.
• Heat a cast iron skillet on your stove-top to medium-high heat with a tablespoon or two of butter and saute the onion, bell pepper, celery and jalapeno until tender.
• Next add in the spinach, salted mashed garlic, and Old bay.
• Stir to combine and wilt the spinach.
• Next add the crab and shrimp and cook for about a minute, until shrimp just begin to turn opaque.
• Remove from heat. [the shrimp will continue to cook in the pan as well as in the oven]
• Stir in your cream cheese, Gouda, and Gruyere and a sprinkle of paprika, and pop the entire skillet in the oven
• Bake for about 15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
• Remove skillet from the oven, give it a moment to de-molten-lavafy itself, and dive on in with your favorite crusty baguette.
• Now would be a good time to garnish with some parsley and red pepper flakes before your eat the entire skillet!