Description
Scrumptious jumbo lump crab au gratin showcases delicate seafood nestled in rich, creamy cheese sauce. Coastal Carolina cuisine delivers pure maritime elegance with elegant ingredients blending seamlessly for you to savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb lump crab meat (picked over for shells and cartilage)
- ½ cup (113 g/4 oz) unsalted butter (1 stick)
- 2 large egg yolks, slightly beaten
- ½ cup (50 g) Gruyere cheese, grated
- ½ cup (50 g) Fontina cheese, grated
- 1 (12 oz/340 g) can evaporated milk
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 celery rib, finely chopped
- 2 tbsps green onions, sliced (save some for garnish)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tsp hot sauce
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Sauté Preparation: Heat a pan over medium-high, melt butter until golden and aromatic, releasing its rich, nutty essence.
- Vegetable Infusion: Add onion, celery, white green onion sections, and garlic, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and tender, creating a flavor foundation.
- Roux Development: Dust flour over softened vegetables, stirring consistently to form a smooth, sandy mixture that will thicken the sauce without lumps.
- Sauce Composition: Whisk egg yolks with evaporated milk, then gradually blend into the vegetable base, creating a velvety sauce while constantly whisking to prevent separation.
- Seasoning Refinement: Incorporate lemon juice, hot sauce, salt, cayenne, and black pepper, allowing flavors to meld and intensify the sauce’s complexity.
- Cheese Integration: Reduce heat and fold in half the grated cheese, stirring until completely melted and seamlessly incorporated into the sauce.
- Crab Arrangement: Distribute delicate crab lumps in oven-proof dishes, maintaining their pristine texture and shape.
- Final Assembly: Pour the luxurious cheese sauce over crab, ensuring complete coverage, then sprinkle remaining cheese to create a golden, crispy topping.
- Baking Process: Roast in a preheated 350°F oven until edges bubble and surface turns golden brown, then broil for 3-4 minutes to achieve a perfectly caramelized cheese crust.
- Serving Presentation: Garnish with reserved green onion tops and serve immediately, capturing the dish at its most decadent and piping hot moment.
Notes
- Prevent Sauce Separation: Whisk egg yolks and milk slowly and steadily to avoid curdling, ensuring a smooth, silky sauce texture.
- Crab Handling Tip: Use delicate folding motions when incorporating crab lumps to preserve their tender, pristine structure and prevent breaking.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Add cheese gradually off direct heat, stirring constantly to create a creamy, uniform sauce without graininess.
- Broiling Caution: Watch closely during final broiling stage to achieve golden-brown crust without burning, as cheese can quickly turn from perfect to burnt.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg