Description
This Creamy Seafood Gratin is an easy and delicious baked dish featuring a luscious blend of shrimp, scallops, and crab meat simmered in a rich cream sauce with garlic and Old Bay seasoning, topped with a golden, cheesy breadcrumb crust. Perfect for a comforting dinner, it combines rich flavors and tender seafood for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood
- 1 pound mixed seafood (shrimp, scallops, and crab meat, fresh or frozen, thawed if frozen)
Sauce and Seasoning
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Topping
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
Others
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare it for baking the gratin.
- Sauté Garlic: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat and add the minced garlic. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Cook Seafood: Add the mixed seafood to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until just cooked through. Remove the skillet from heat to avoid overcooking.
- Prepare Cream Sauce: In a mixing bowl, combine the heavy cream, lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir in the cooked seafood to coat it evenly with the sauce.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Grease a baking dish and transfer the seafood mixture into it, spreading it out evenly.
- Prepare Topping: In a separate bowl, mix the breadcrumbs with the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the seafood in the baking dish.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving to add freshness and color.
Notes
- Use fresh or properly thawed frozen seafood for best texture and flavor.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the cream sauce.
- To make it gluten-free, substitute breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Serve this gratin with a side of steamed vegetables or crusty bread for a complete meal.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days and reheated gently in the oven.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: seafood gratin, baked seafood, creamy seafood recipe, shrimp scallop crab bake, easy seafood dinner
