A **Stuffed Seafood Bread Bowl** is a delicious and creative way to serve seafood in a fun, bread-filled presentation. This dish features a flavorful seafood mixture stuffed into a hollowed-out bread bowl, creating a comforting and satisfying meal. Here’s a recipe for you to try!
### Ingredients:
#### For the bread bowl:
– 1 large round sourdough or French bread loaf (about 8-10 inches in diameter)
#### For the seafood filling:
– 1 lb shrimp, peeled, deveined, and chopped into bite-sized pieces
– 1/2 lb crab meat (fresh or imitation)
– 1 tablespoon butter
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 small onion, finely chopped
– 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
– 1/4 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
– 1/2 cup heavy cream
– 1/2 cup cream cheese (softened)
– 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
– 1/4 teaspoon paprika
– 1/4 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning (optional for extra flavor)
– 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (plus more for garnish)
– Salt and pepper to taste
#### For the topping:
– 1/4 cup breadcrumbs (preferably panko)
– 1 tablespoon butter, melted
– 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
### Instructions:
1. **Prepare the bread bowl:**
– Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
– Using a serrated knife, cut a circular hole in the top of the bread loaf, leaving about a 1-inch border around the edges. Carefully hollow out the inside of the loaf, making sure to leave enough bread on the bottom and sides to hold the seafood filling. Set the bread bowl aside and reserve the bread that’s been removed for dipping later.
2. **Cook the seafood filling:**
– In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, celery, and bell pepper, and sauté for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are softened.
– Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook for about 2-3 minutes until pink and cooked through. Stir in the crab meat and cook for another 2 minutes.
– Reduce the heat to low and add the heavy cream, cream cheese, and Parmesan cheese. Stir until the cream cheese is melted and the mixture is smooth and creamy. Season with paprika, Old Bay seasoning (if using), salt, and pepper. Stir in the fresh parsley. Remove from heat.
3. **Stuff the bread bowl:**
– Spoon the seafood mixture into the hollowed-out bread bowl, packing it in tightly.
4. **Make the topping:**
– In a small bowl, mix the breadcrumbs with the melted butter. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top of the stuffed seafood mixture. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese for a cheesy, golden finish.
5. **Bake the bread bowl:**
– Place the stuffed bread bowl on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. If you’d like a crispier topping, you can broil the bread bowl for an additional 1-2 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
6. **Serve:**
– Remove the bread bowl from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Garnish with additional fresh parsley. Serve with the reserved bread pieces for dipping, and enjoy!
### Tips:
– You can use other seafood options like scallops, lobster, or a mix of seafood based on your preferences.
– If you want a little more flavor, you can add a few dashes of hot sauce to the seafood mixture for a kick.
– For a lighter version, you can use half-and-half instead of heavy cream or swap in a low-fat cream cheese option.
This **Stuffed Seafood Bread Bowl** is a showstopper dish that’s full of rich seafood flavors and perfect for sharing at dinner parties, family gatherings, or as a special treat for seafood lovers! Enjoy!