The crab and shrimp crostini are a simple and quick appetizer idea that brings all the aroma of the sea to the table. Perfect for Christmas Eve, New Year’s or your seafood menus, they are prepared in minutes and are captivating for their elegance and freshness.
The crunchy base of the crostini meets a delicate cream of crab meat and spreadable cheese, topped with shrimp sautéed in a pan. They are also ideal as finger food, to be served on a tray at aperitif time: beautiful to look at, light and irresistibly tasty.
If you are looking for an easy yet impressive idea to surprise your guests, these crostini are definitely what you need… if you want to try them, here is the recipe!
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- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Medium
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 12 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Seafood
- Seasonality: All Seasons, Christmas
Ingredients
- Half baguette
- 4.2 oz crab meat (drained)
- 2.1 oz cream cheese
- 12 shrimp tails
- chives (or parsley)
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt
- pepper
Tools
- Bowl
- Strainer
- Pan
- Grill or toaster
Preparation
Shell the shrimp, remove the black vein and wash them well.
Place them in a pan, add a drizzle of oil and a pinch of salt, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Turn off and set aside.
Drain the crab meat from the liquid in the can. Transfer it to a bowl, add the cream cheese and mix.
Season with salt and pepper, then add chopped chives or parsley.
Cut the baguette into slices about 0.5-0.75 inches thick. Toast them for 1-2 minutes on a hot grill or in the toaster.
Now assemble your crostini: spread the slices of bread with the crab meat mixture and add a shrimp on each one. If desired, garnish with more chives and a drizzle of oil.
Crab and shrimp crostini are ready to be served… enjoy!
Tips and Notes
You can also use other types of bread, cutting the slices into the shape and size you prefer, or directly use crackers.
For this recipe, you need natural crab meat, which can be found in supermarkets canned (usually in the section with the tuna).
You can use classic Philadelphia, or another type of creamy cheese. Alternatively, you can replace it with mayonnaise.
You can blanch the shrimp instead of cooking them in a pan. For this recipe, you can also use frozen shrimp, as long as they are of excellent quality.
FAQ
Can I omit the shrimp?
Of course, you can make the crostini with just the crab meat cream.
Can I prepare the crostini in advance?
You can prepare the shrimp and crab meat in advance, but I recommend assembling the crostini at the last minute so the bread remains crunchy.
