Garlic Butter Crab Toasts
Delicious garlic butter crab toasts with fresh crab meat, herbs, and a hint of lemon, toasted on crispy baguette slices for a flavorful appetizer or snack.
Equipment
- 1 oven
- 1 saucepan
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh crab meat preferably Dungeness or blue crabs
- 1 loaf French baguette sliced into 1/2-inch slices
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese optional
- 1 teaspoon paprika optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Steam fresh crabs for 10 minutes until bright red, cool, and carefully extract crab meat without shell fragments.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, add minced garlic, and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant without burning.
- In a mixing bowl, gently combine crab meat, melted garlic butter, lemon juice, parsley, chives, salt, and pepper.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet and brush both sides lightly with olive oil.
- Toast baguette slices in the oven for 5-7 minutes until golden brown and crispy on edges.
- Remove toasted bread from oven and spoon crab mixture generously onto each slice.
- Optionally sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the crab mixture.
- Return assembled toasts to oven for 5 minutes to meld flavors and melt cheese slightly.
- Remove from oven, garnish with paprika if desired, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use fresh crab meat or pre-cooked for convenience.
- Parmesan cheese adds richness but can be skipped for dairy-free.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and consume within 2 days.
- Toast bread just before assembling to keep crispness.