Imperial Crab Dip Recipe
spicy dip with artichoke hearts fresh jalapeno pickles & Parmesan cheese
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Ingredients
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Crab & Vegetable Base
Cheese & Dairy
Seasoning & Aromatics
Finishing & Garnish
Method
Crab & Vegetable Base
- 1
Prepare crab and vegetables
Pick over the lump crab meat on a cutting board or shallow bowl to remove any shells and large cartilage pieces. Drain well and pat gently with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Quarter and drain the canned artichoke hearts, then chop into roughly 1/4-inch pieces. Seed (if desired) and finely dice the fresh jalapeño. Finely dice the pickle and thinly slice the green onions. Combine the crab, chopped artichokes, jalapeño, pickle, and green onions in a medium mixing bowl; gently fold to combine without breaking the crab lumps.
Cheese & Dairy
- 2
Make the creamy base
In a separate bowl, soften the cream cheese until smooth (microwave 10–15 seconds if necessary). Add the sour cream, mayonnaise, and 2 ounces of the grated Parmesan to the cream cheese. Whisk or beat with a spatula until smooth and homogenous. Fold the cream cheese mixture into the crab and vegetable mixture until evenly coated.
- 3
Assemble in baking dish
Transfer the combined mixture to a 1.5- to 2-quart ovenproof baking dish, pressing to an even layer and smoothing the top. Sprinkle the shredded Monterey Jack or mozzarella evenly over the top, then scatter the remaining 1 ounce of grated Parmesan.
Seasoning & Aromatics
- 4
Season
Add minced garlic, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper to the crab-and-cheese mixture before transferring to the baking dish. Taste a small spoonful before baking and adjust salt, lemon, or hot sauce to preference. If mixture tastes very thick, stir in up to 1 tablespoon water or milk to loosen slightly.
Baking & Finishing
- 5
Bake
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the baking dish on a center rack and bake until the dip is bubbly around the edges and the cheese on top is golden, about 20–25 minutes. For a browned top, switch to broil for 1–2 minutes while watching closely.
- 6
