Description
Crab Stuffed Morel Mushrooms are an elegant and flavorful appetizer combining the delicate earthiness of morel mushrooms with a rich, creamy crab filling. Perfect for seafood lovers, this dish features fresh morels stuffed with lump crab meat blended with cream cheese, mayo, Parmesan, and aromatic seasonings, then baked to tender, golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Morel Mushrooms
- 12 large fresh morel mushrooms, cleaned and halved lengthwise
Crab Stuffing
- 8 ounces lump crab meat, picked over for shells
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For Baking
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the stuffed mushrooms.
- Prepare Morels: Gently clean the morel mushrooms to remove any dirt or grit and pat them dry. Halve them lengthwise if not already done.
- Make Crab Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the lump crab meat, softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, chopped parsley, lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix carefully to keep the crab meat chunky and well incorporated.
- Brush Mushrooms: Lightly brush both sides of the morel halves with olive oil to enhance flavor and prevent drying during baking.
- Stuff Mushrooms: Place the oiled morels on a baking sheet and carefully spoon the crab mixture into each mushroom cavity, pressing gently to fill each one evenly.
- Add Butter: Drizzle melted butter over the tops of the stuffed morels to add richness and help achieve a golden finish.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes until the mushrooms are tender and the crab filling is heated through and lightly golden on top.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve the stuffed morel mushrooms warm as a delicious appetizer.
Notes
- Ensure morels are thoroughly cleaned to remove any grit and dirt trapped in their crevices.
- If fresh morel mushrooms are unavailable, large cremini mushrooms can be used as a suitable substitute.
- For a little heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the crab filling mixture.
