Description
Savory salmon delights with a luxurious crab and shrimp stuffing that elevates classic seafood expectations. Rich coastal flavors blend seamlessly, promising a restaurant-quality meal you can confidently prepare at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 salmon fillets (7 oz/198 g), skin removed
- 8 oz (226 g) lump or claw crab
- 12–16 medium shrimp, peeled and cleaned
- 1 pack (5 oz/142 g) Boursin Shallot & Chive, room temperature
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup (28 g) parmesan cheese, grated
- 4 oz (113 g) frozen spinach, thawed
- 2 tsps garlic, minced
- 1 jalapeno, deseeded and diced
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning, plus more for seasoning shrimp
- ½ tsp smoked paprika, plus more for seasoning shrimp
- ¼ tsp Cajun seasoning
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tbsps avocado or olive oil, divided
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Lemon wedges, to garnish
- Salt and ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for effortless cooking and cleaning.
- Salmon Seasoning: Massage salmon fillets with olive oil, then generously coat with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and Cajun seasoning to build a complex flavor foundation.
- Pocket Creation: Craft a deep cavity in each fillet by slicing carefully two-thirds through the thickness, maintaining structural integrity.
- Filling Assembly: Squeeze excess moisture from spinach, then blend with Boursin cheese, jalapeno, crab meat, parmesan, and garlic, harmonizing the mixture with subtle salt and pepper undertones.
- Shrimp Preparation: Toss raw shrimp in a vibrant marinade of olive oil, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper, ensuring complete and even coating.
- Salmon Stuffing: Delicately fill each fillet with the prepared crab and spinach mixture, distributing the filling evenly to maximize flavor potential.
- Final Composition: Artfully arrange seasoned shrimp atop the stuffed salmon, then lavish with Cajun butter to enhance moisture and depth of flavor.
- Baking Process: Roast in the preheated oven for 15-17 minutes until salmon transforms to a translucent opaque and flakes effortlessly with a fork.
- Serving: Present immediately with fresh lemon wedges to accentuate the seafood’s natural essence and provide a bright, zesty counterpoint.
Notes
- Pocket Precision: Create a clean, shallow cut in salmon to avoid splitting the fillet, ensuring the stuffing stays perfectly contained during baking.
- Moisture Management: Thoroughly drain spinach to prevent watery filling, which could compromise the stuffing’s texture and salmon’s cooking quality.
- Seasoning Strategy: Layer flavors by seasoning seafood separately before combining, maximizing depth and ensuring each ingredient carries its own robust taste profile.
- Temperature Timing: Check salmon’s doneness by its opaque color and easy flaking, preventing overcooking that could dry out the delicate seafood and stuffing.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg