Crab Cups
(from saymyname’s recipe box)
4-41/2 dozen appetizers
Source: In 'A Love Affair with Southern Cooking' by Jean Anderson
Categories: Appetizers, Seafood
Ingredients
- 1 loaf sliced white bread, crusts removed (1 lb. loaf, 27 slices)
- 1 lb fresh lump crabmeat, bits of shell and cartilage removed
- 2 cups finely diced celery (3 large ribs)
- 2 large hard-cooked eggs, finely chopped
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup firmly packed mayonnaise (can use light)
- 1 tablespoon finely snipped fresh dill (or tarragon)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
- paprika
Directions
-
Preheat oven to 300°.
-
Using a 1 7/8- to 2-inch round cutter, cut 2 rounds from each slice of bread.
-
Press the bread rounds gently into ungreased mini muffin pan cups measuring no more than 2 inches across the top.
-
The bread will only half-fill the muffin cups, but shape it as best as you can into shallow cups.
-
Don’t worry about ragged edges; the filling will hide them.
-
Toast the bread cups on the middle oven rack for about 20 minutes or until crisp and golden.
-
Cool to room temperature, then remove from the muffin pans.
-
Filling—lightly fork together the crabmeat, celery, eggs, onion, mayonnaise, dill, salt, and pepper.
-
Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours; fork again just before using.
-
To till the toast cups, scoop the crab mixture up by generous teaspoonfuls.
-
Blush the tops of the crab cups with paprika, if you like; arrange on a colorful platter and serve as an accompaniment to cocktails.