Description
A deliciously creamy and savory seafood-stuffed sourdough bread bowl featuring shrimp, crab meat, and a blend of cheeses and spices, baked to golden perfection. Perfect as a party appetizer or a hearty main dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood Filling
- ½ lb cooked shrimp, chopped
- ½ lb lump crab meat, picked over for shells
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- â…“ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Vegetables & Bread
- 1 large round sourdough bread loaf
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
- ½ red bell pepper, diced
Instructions
- Prep the bread bowl: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Slice the top off the sourdough loaf and carefully hollow out the inside, leaving about a 1-inch thick shell. Set the bread bowl aside and cut the removed bread into cubes for serving.
- Sauté vegetables: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion, garlic, celery, and diced red bell pepper. Cook for 4–5 minutes until softened and fragrant. Remove from heat and let the vegetables cool slightly.
- Combine filling: In a large bowl, mix together the cooked shrimp, crab meat, sautéed vegetables, softened cream cheese, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, mayonnaise, Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, cayenne pepper if using, chopped parsley, salt, and black pepper. Stir until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Fill and bake: Spoon the seafood mixture into the hollowed-out bread bowl, spreading evenly. Place the filled bread bowl on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes or until the filling is hot, bubbly, and the top is golden brown.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve warm. Accompany with the reserved bread cubes or crackers for dipping into the creamy seafood filling.
Notes
- You can substitute canned crab or imitation crab if fresh crab is unavailable.
- For extra richness, stir in a splash of heavy cream into the filling before baking.
- This dish works well as a party appetizer or a hearty main course.
