Garlic Butter Crab Toasts (Print View)
Toasted baguette holds buttery crab, garlic, herbs, and lemon for a savory, elegant appetizer.
# What You'll Need:
→ Crab Mixture
01 -
1 pound fresh crab meat, preferably Dungeness or blue crab
02 -
1/2 cup unsalted butter
03 -
4 cloves garlic, minced
04 -
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
05 -
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
06 -
2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
07 -
Salt, to taste
08 -
Black pepper, to taste
→ Toast Base
09 -
1 French baguette, sliced into 1/2-inch slices
10 -
2 tablespoons olive oil
→ Garnish and Finish
11 -
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
12 -
1 teaspoon paprika (optional, for garnish)
# Directions:
01 -
If using whole crabs, steam for roughly 10 minutes until shells turn bright red. Let cool, then extract meat, ensuring no shell fragments remain.
02 -
In a small saucepan, melt unsalted butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant, without browning.
03 -
In a large mixing bowl, gently blend the crab meat with melted garlic butter, lemon juice, chopped parsley, chives, salt, and black pepper, taking care not to break up the crab.
04 -
Set the oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure even toasting.
05 -
Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet and lightly brush both sides with olive oil.
06 -
Place the baking sheet in the oven and toast for 5 to 7 minutes, or until slices are golden brown with crisp edges.
07 -
Remove toasted bread from oven. Spoon generous amounts of crab mixture onto each slice.
08 -
If desired, sprinkle each toast with grated Parmesan cheese.
09 -
Return assembled toasts to the oven and bake for 5 minutes to meld flavors and lightly melt cheese.
10 -
Remove from oven, sprinkle with paprika if using, and serve immediately while warm.
# Notes:
01 -
Carefully inspect crab meat for shells to avoid unpleasant bites. Fresh herbs deliver optimal flavor.