Maryland Jumbo Lump Shrimp Crab Imperial

Every once in a while (okay, maybe more than once in while!), you want to treat yourself to something special for dinner, or perhaps there’s a special occasion coming up and you want a delicious dish that’s easy to prepare but also stands out.

What you might be looking for is this rich, creamy, lump crab meat dish that’s a timeless classic and reminds you of days gone by. It’s Crab Imperial, and even the name sounds like something that you might be served at an elegant, black-tie dinner party.

Showcasing sweet, jumbo lump crab meat, Crab Imperial also can fit the bill as added stuffing for lobster, shrimp or mushrooms. It’s also the perfect dish to serve as a lighter, warm-weather alternative to a heavy meal. This superb recipe comes to you courtesy of Ask Chef Dennis.com:

Maryland Jumbo Lump Shrimp Crab Imperial Maryland Jumbo Lump Shrimp Crab Imperial courtesy of AskChefDennis.com

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 3-4

Pastry Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. jumbo lump crabmeat or lump
  • ½ cup Hellman’s Mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 1 tsp. Old Bay
  • 1 tsp. finely chopped Italian parsley
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten
  • Squeeze of lemon juice
  • 1 whole lemon

 

Directions

  1. Mix mayonnaise, egg, sugar, Old Bay, lemon juice and parsley together and blend well, this is your imperial sauce.

  2. Gently fold crab meat into imperial sauce, being careful not to break up crab meat.

  3. Place portions in baking dish using ramekins or small casserole dishes.

  4. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes (top will turn golden brown) or until a thermometer gets an internal reading of 165 degrees.

  5. Allow to cool just a few minutes before serving. It will set and be more flavorful as it cools slightly.

Recipe Notes

Depending on what you choose to serve for your side dish, you should get about 3 portions out of the recipe. Try not to make your serving any smaller than ⅓ of a pound per person. You can stretch the recipe if desired, and make stuffed shrimp with the filling, which can serve 4 people.

All you need to add to make it a complete meal is a light tomato salad, perhaps some roasted asparagus or another vegetable, and warm, artisan or French bread. We’re sure that once you taste this dish, you’ll want to have more and prepare it to serve at your next dinner party or special occasion!