Description
Crab and Shrimp Melts are a delightful seafood appetizer featuring a creamy avocado and crab mixture layered on toasted whole grain or sourdough bread, topped with succulent cooked shrimp and melted Monterey Jack cheese, then broiled to golden perfection and garnished with dried parsley.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood and Toppings
- ½ cup white crab meat, fresh or canned
- 12 to 16 cooked large shrimp or King Prawns
- 3 to 4 slices Monterey Jack or other mild creamy cheese
Spread Ingredients
- 1 avocado, peeled
- ¼ teaspoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped red pepper
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped red chilis, optional
- Generous pinch of celery salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Bread
- 3 to 4 slices whole grain or sourdough bread
Garnish
- Dried parsley to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the Broiler: Preheat your oven’s broiler (or grill if you are in the UK) to get it ready for melting the cheese and toasting the toppings.
- Mash the Avocado: In a large bowl, mash the peeled avocado until smooth and creamy to serve as the base of the spread mixture.
- Mix the Spread: Add the white crab meat, dried basil, finely chopped red pepper, finely chopped red chilies (if using), celery salt, and freshly ground black pepper to the mashed avocado. Mix gently until well combined.
- Toast the Bread: Toast the slices of whole grain or sourdough bread in a toaster until lightly browned and crisp. Place the toasted bread on a broiler pan or a baking sheet.
- Assemble the Melts: Spread the crab and avocado mixture evenly over each slice of toasted bread. Top each slice with 4 to 5 cooked large shrimp or King prawns, then place one slice of Monterey Jack cheese on top of the shrimp.
- Broil Until Golden: Place the baking sheet under the preheated broiler and cook until the cheese starts to bubble and turn golden brown, usually about 2-4 minutes — watch closely to prevent burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the broiler and sprinkle dried parsley over the melts. Cut each slice into halves or quarters to serve as an appetizer or light snack.
Notes
- Use fresh crab meat if available for best flavor, though canned crab is a convenient substitute.
- Adjust the amount of chopped chili according to your spice tolerance.
- Keep an eye on the melts while broiling as cheese can quickly go from golden to burnt.
- Substitute Monterey Jack with mozzarella or a mild cheddar for variation.
- For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free bread slices.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Broiling
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: crab melts, shrimp melts, seafood appetizer, broiled cheese toast, avocado crab spread
