It's just a few days until 2015 and with the year ending I'm celebrating with Year End Cravings. This was such an easy theme for me. I actually went with my husband's biggest holiday craving which is crab. He is a Maryland boy through and through and absolutely loves his crab. We don't get it very often because of the price but when we do he's a happy man.
We had a holiday party a few weeks ago and bought a few pounds of jumbo lump crab meat. My husband wanted me to make the Crab Artichoke Bread that was such a big hit at last year's party. It's this creamy, delicious mix of crab, cheese, artichokes, and Old Bay. It's spread thick onto a loaf of ciabatta bread and baked until bubbly. We really love it and the recipe makes enough to make 2 loaves of Crab Artichoke Bread as well as about a cup of the crab mixture to put in a ramekin and serve as hot Crab Artichoke dip.
Let me start by saying you can use crab meat that isn't lump but it just won't be the same. I'll also say that you can use crab from Thailand or some other faraway place but it also won't be the same. This recipe is best made with fresh Maryland crab. We have a seafood guy who actually goes down to the Chesapeake Bay weekly to pick up fresh crab and bring it to our small Maryland town. It's awesome and it's half the price of the crab meat I can buy at the market which is from far away countries.
I made two loaves of this crab artichoke bread for our holiday party and just like last year as soon as it came out of the oven it was gobbled up. The ciabatta bread gets crunchy and stands up well to the crab and artichoke. The crab and artichoke are mixed with cream cheese, sour cream, garlic, Old Bay, and other seasonings. It bakes up bubbly and golden brown. I love to bite into the bread and get a mix of the crunchy bread and creamy crab dip. It's an awesome appetizer that's a huge crowd pleaser.
We ended up not making the extra side of crab dip and saved it for ourselves the next day. It was enough that the next day we were able to make another half loaf of bread and enjoyed it for our dinner. My husband loves his crab and was happy to have this bread two days in a row. It was definitely a way to end the year curbing this cravings for crab.
- 1 loaf ciabatta bread, cut in half
- 2 cans artichoke hearts, drained and cut into quarters
- 8 oz. reduced fat cream cheese
- ½ c. low fat sour cream
- 1 T. lemon juice
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 T. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 T. Old Bay seasoning
- ½ t. salt
- 1 t. black pepper
- 8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
- 12 oz. Maryland Lump Crab
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
- Place the ciabatta bread halves cut side up on a cookie sheet.
- In a large bowl combine the cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, garlic, Worcestershire, garlic, Old Bay, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Gently fold in the artichokes, cheese, and lump crab meat.
- Spread the crab dip over top of both loaves of ciabatta, spreading it on thick and to the very edges of the bread. You will have about 1 cup left over.
- Sprinkle with a little more of the cheddar cheese if desired.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until the top in beginning to brown. Put the oven on broil and broil for 2 minutes or until the cheese is browned.
- Remove from oven and cut into 12-14 slices. Serve hot.
*To bake leftover Crab Artichoke dip simply put it in a ramekin and bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees.*
Julie @ Texan New Yorker
I'm not from Maryland, but I adore crab as though I was from there, and I'm totally drooling just looking at your pictures and the recipe. I would plow through a plate of this!! I'm guessing you were *quite* the popular hostess! 🙂
HezziD
Thanks! Everyone certainly loved this and it was requested since I made it last year as well.
Sarah
Wowee! This has my mom written all over it - she's the artichoke fan in the house!
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere
I love crab dip and I love artichoke dip, so this sounds like one amazing combo!
susan @ the wimpy vegetarian
I love crab. I don't think I can get Maryland lump crab, but I really want to make this for a New Years Day brunch!
MealDiva
Perfect comfort food.
Shaina
I totally want to make this for New Year's Eve, I think I'm staying in and just going appetizer crazy with my roommate...this will be perfect! 🙂
Family Foodie
What a fantastic appetizer. I can't wait to try it.
Christy @ Confessions of a Culinary Diva
We love crab too! What a sinfully indulgent bread.
Happy New Year!
Sam @ PancakeWarriors
Oh my gosh between the crab and the artichokes, I'm drooling!! What a great combo - I'm definitely craving this now!
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers
Your bread looks delish! I could eat the whole loaf!
HezziD
LOL I could too...and have come close to doing it 🙂
Renee
I can definitely see this bread getting gobbled up right away. Bring on the crab!!
HezziD
It's definitely a favorite of all our our friends...I mean, who doesn't love crab?
Cindys Recipes and Writings
You have me convinced to splurge for some lump crab meat! Delicious!
HezziD
It's so worth it, especially if you can get Maryland crab (which I bet you can because you are pretty close!)