Baked Stuffed Shrimp with Crabmeat Stuffing

By zircon50

This dish is part of our family Christmas Eve celebration every year. I love baked stuffed shrimp, but so many restaurants here prepare their shrimp piled high with Ritz crackers drenched in butter. I think the crabmeat stuffing adds somethng a bit more special. Prep time includes the stuffing's cooling time.

Ingredients

• 1 lb fresh lump crabmeat, shells removed (or 2 cans of canned crabmeat if fresh isn't available)
• 2 teaspoons cajun seasoning or 2 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning (or to taste) (optional)
• 4 tablespoons butter, plus
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/2 cup onion, minced
• 1/4 cup celery, minced
• 1/4 cup green bell pepper, minced
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
• 1 cup buttery cracker, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 2 lbs u- 12 shrimp or 2 lbs jumbo shrimp, shelled,deveined,and butterflied

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. Line your baking dish with foil, and butter or spray with non stick cooking spray.

3. Place the crabmeat in a large bowl and season with the Cajun Seasoning, Old Bay or salt and pepper, (your choice).

4. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

5. In your fry pan, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat.

6. Add the onions, celery, and bell peppers and cook, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes.

7. Add the parsley and the garlic, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

8. Remove from heat and let cool.

9 Add the cooled vegetables to the crabmeat and toss to combine.

10 Add the mayonnaise, egg, lemon juice, Worcestershire and hot sauce and stir gently.

11 Add 1 cup of cracker crumbs, salt and pepper to taste, and stir gently, being careful not to break up the crabmeat.

12 Spoon the crabmeat stuffing evenly into each shrimp (about 2 Tbsp), and place, stuffed sides up, in your baking dish.

13 Drizzle with the remaining melted butter.

14 Bake until golden, about 20 minutes.