Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab is a delightful dish that captures the essence of Bahamian cuisine. This recipe combines fresh crab meat with flavorful ingredients like bread crumbs, onions, and bell peppers, creating a tasty experience that transports you straight to the sunny beaches of the Bahamas. As we travel and explore different cultures, we love adding local recipes to our collection, and this one is definitely a favorite.
During our adventures in over 150 countries, we have enjoyed the culinary treasures each place has to offer. Bahamian cooking stands out with its vibrant flavors and fresh ingredients.
Baked stuffed crab serves not only as a delicious appetizer but also as a showcase of what makes Bahamian recipes so special.
Join us as we share our journey of discovering this tasty dish.
We’ll walk you through the steps of making Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab, perfect for impressing your family and friends at your next gathering.
Get ready to experience the wonderful taste of the Bahamas right from your own kitchen!
Why You’ll Love This Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab Recipe
We can’t get enough of Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab! This dish combines the flavors of fresh Dungeness crab with a tasty stuffing. It’s a treat that feels special but is easy to make.
The rich crab meat blends perfectly with ingredients like breadcrumbs, onion, and spices. Each bite is full of flavor that makes our taste buds dance.
Pairing stuffed crab with coleslaw gives us a nice crunch. The cool, creamy slaw balances the warmth and richness of the crab.
Serving the crab with rice offers a hearty side. The rice soaks up any extra juices, making our meal even more satisfying.
Whether it’s a family dinner or a gathering with friends, this dish is a hit. The ease of preparing stuffed crab means we can enjoy cooking together. Everyone loves the aroma of crab baking in the oven.
This recipe is a celebration of Caribbean flavors that brings smiles to our faces. With simple steps and delicious results, we’re sure to impress anyone we serve it to!
Let’s not forget, it also makes for a great festival food, easy to grab and enjoy while mingling with friends.
Give this Bahamian classic a try—we know you’ll love it as much as we do!
What Makes This Recipe Special
Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab is more than just a dish; it reflects the rich culture and flavors of the Bahamas. We love how it combines fresh seafood with simple ingredients to create something truly delightful.
Fresh Ingredients
Using real crab meat makes this appetizer special. The crab is tender and flavorful, capturing the essence of the sea. Fresh local seafood is a key part of Bahamian cooking.
Unique Flavor Profile
The mix of flavors in the stuffing—onions, bell peppers, and spices—makes each bite exciting. The addition of Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce adds a nice kick. It’s a taste that many of us find hard to resist.
Perfect for Sharing
This dish works well for gatherings or family meals. We can serve it easily as a starter or even as the main dish with sides. It’s both filling and satisfying, bringing everyone together.
Cultural Significance
Baked stuffed crab is often considered a national dish in the Bahamas. It’s a favorite at festivals and celebrations. Preparing this dish allows us to connect with Bahamian heritage and share it with others.
This recipe is not just food for us; it’s an experience filled with flavors, stories, and memories. We cherish every bite!
Cooking Equipment Needed
To make Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab, we’ll need some essential cooking equipment. Here’s a handy list to help us get organized.
Important Tools:
- Baking Sheet: This is where we’ll place our stuffed crab before baking. A rimmed baking sheet is best to catch any juices.
- Mixing Bowls: We’ll need a few bowls to combine our crab meat mixture. A large bowl works well for mixing the ingredients.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: These will help us measure out all the right amounts of each ingredient, like breadcrumbs and butter.
- Fork or Spoon: We’ll use a fork or spoon to mix the crab mixture thoroughly.
- Pans for Sautéing: If we choose to sauté some ingredients like onions or garlic, a skillet will be useful.
- Oven: Our oven is crucial for baking the stuffed crab to perfection. Preheating it ensures even cooking.
Ingredients:
- Butter: We’ll need unsalted butter for a rich flavor.
- Breadcrumbs and Panko Bread Crumbs: These give our stuffing the right texture. Panko creates a crispier finish.
- Vegetable Oil: This can be used to grease our baking sheet or pans.
With this equipment and our ingredients ready, we’re all set to start making delicious Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab!
Cooking Instructions
To start, we’ll preheat our oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a large bowl, we mix the crab meat, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, and all our chopped veggies—onion, bell peppers, and celery.
Then, we’ll add the garlic, salt, black pepper, and paprika. We should stir everything gently until well combined.
Now we can fill our crab shells with this tasty mixture.
We place the stuffed crabs in a greased baking dish. Drizzling some melted butter on top will give them a nice finish.
It’s time to bake! We’ll pop them in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes. They’ll be ready when they’re hot and lightly browned.
Once done, we’ll squeeze some fresh lemon juice over them for extra flavor.
Serve these delicious crabs warm, and enjoy the rich taste of our Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crabs!
Cooking Tips
When making Bahamian baked stuffed crab, a few tips can help us achieve the best flavor and texture.
Choose the Right Crab
We can use Dungeness or blue crabs for this recipe. Fresh crab is ideal, but pre-cooked crab works well too.
Prepare the Mixture
Mix crabmeat with ingredients like breadcrumbs, onions, and bell peppers. Adding some crab fat gives our stuffing extra flavor.
Spice It Up
Don’t forget the seasoning! We can add a dash of hot sauce for a little kick. Adjust the amount based on our spice preference.
Bake Carefully
Bake the stuffed crabs in a preheated oven. Keep an eye on them so they don’t dry out.
We want a nice golden brown on top.
Serving Suggestions
Let the crabs cool for a few minutes before serving. This way, we avoid burning our mouths on the hot filling. They make a great appetizer!
Ingredients Needed for the Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab Recipe
Butter or dairy free butter (one stick)
Onion chopped finely
Green onion chopped (white parts only)
Garlic cloves minced
Bread
Crab meat
Bay leaves
Salt
Pepper
Parsley
Bread crumbs
Instructions For Preparing the Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab Recipe
Preparing the Filling
Preheat the oven to 350°F and set aside 6 ceramic baking shells or a baking dish (9×11, 8×8, or 8-inch round). In a large sauté pan over medium heat, melt butter and cook the onion, green onions, and garlic for 5-7 minutes until tender.
Dampen the bread with water until moist but not dripping, then cut it into small cubes. Add the bread to the pan, stirring well, and cook for about 5 minutes until softened and warmed. Mix in crab meat, bay leaves, salt, pepper, cayenne (if using), and parsley, stirring to heat through for 7-10 minutes. Remove bay leaves.
Baking and Serving
Transfer the crab mixture to the baking shells or dish. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and either drizzle with olive oil or add a dollop of butter for a golden, crispy top. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden and heated through. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve.
FAQs For the Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab Recipe
Question: What ingredients are needed for a Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab Recipe?
A: A Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab recipe typically includes fresh crab meat, bell peppers, onions, breadcrumbs, lime juice, Bahamian spices, and butter for a rich and flavorful filling.
Question: How long does it take to cook a Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab Recipe?
A: A Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab recipe usually takes about 30-40 minutes to bake until the stuffing is golden brown and heated through.
Question: What is the best way to serve a Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab Recipe?
A: A Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab recipe is best served in the cleaned crab shell or ramekins, garnished with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lime.
Question: Can I make a Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab Recipe ahead of time?
A: Yes, a Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab recipe can be prepared ahead of time, refrigerated, and baked just before serving for the best flavor and texture.
Question: What side dishes pair well with a Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab Recipe?
A: A Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab recipe pairs well with coleslaw, rice and peas, or a fresh green salad for a complete island-inspired meal.
Bahamian Baked Stuffed Crab Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter or dairy free butter one stick
- 1 onion medium chopped finely
- ¼ cup green onion chopped white parts only
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 3-4 slices bread damped and cut into small cubes
- 1 pound crab meat rinsed and chopped if in big chunks
- 2-3 bay leaves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1½ tablespoons parsley finely chopped + extra for topping if desired.
- ½ cup bread crumbs more or less to taste.
Instructions
Preparing the Filling
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and set aside 6 ceramic baking shells or a baking dish (9x11, 8x8, or 8-inch round). In a large sauté pan over medium heat, melt butter and cook the onion, green onions, and garlic for 5-7 minutes until tender.
- Dampen the bread with water until moist but not dripping, then cut it into small cubes. Add the bread to the pan, stirring well, and cook for about 5 minutes until softened and warmed. Mix in crab meat, bay leaves, salt, pepper, cayenne (if using), and parsley, stirring to heat through for 7-10 minutes. Remove bay leaves.
Baking and Serving
- Transfer the crab mixture to the baking shells or dish. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and either drizzle with olive oil or add a dollop of butter for a golden, crispy top. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden and heated through. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve.
1 comment
The stuffing in this dish was flavorful, well-seasoned, and had a great texture. The crab shells made a beautiful presentation, and the balance of spices and seafood was perfect. Everyone at the table raved about how delicious it was and kept asking for more.