Gourmet Stuffed Shrimp with Savory Scampi Sauce and Decadent Toffee-Apple Dip
Elevate your dining experience with this exquisite recipe for Gourmet Stuffed Shrimp, featuring tender shrimp stuffed with premium crab meat, baked to perfection, and served with a rich scampi sauce. Complementing this seafood delight is a luscious Toffee-Apple Dip, blending sweet apples, creamy whipped cream cheese, and crunchy toffee pieces, creating a perfect balance of savory and sweet. Ideal for gatherings and special occasions, this dish offers a delicious combination that will impress your guests and leave them asking for seconds.
8
Servings
625
Calories
13
Ingredients
Ingredients
French-fried onions
1/3 cup (coarsely crushed)
Fresh Italian parsley
2 tablespoons (coarsely chopped)
White wine or chicken broth
1/3 cup (liquid)
Large shrimp
24 (tail-on, peeled, deveined (about 10 oz))
Premium lump crab cakes
2 (3 ounce) (thawed)
Scampi finishing sauce
1/2 cup (sauce)
Sweet apples
1 1/2 cups (sliced and chopped)
Toffee pieces
1 (8 ounce) bag (divided)
Whipped cream cheese
1 (8 ounce) container (cream cheese)
Brown sugar
3/4 cup (firmly packed)
Granulated sugar
1/2 cup (sugar)
Vanilla extract
1 teaspoon (extract)
Cinnamon sugar pita chips
1 (8 ounce) bag (for serving)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2
In a mixing bowl, coarsely crush the French-fried onions and chop the fresh Italian parsley.
3
Pour the white wine (or chicken broth) into a 9-inch square baking dish.
4
To butterfly the shrimp, make a slit almost through the back of each shrimp. Open and flatten them. Place about 1 teaspoon of crab cake on the back of each shrimp, then fold the tail over the filling.
5
Arrange the stuffed shrimp in the prepared baking dish, making sure they are well spaced.
6
Bake the shrimp in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until they turn pink and opaque, and the internal stuffing reaches 165°F (74°C).
7
Once cooked, transfer the shrimp to a serving platter and sprinkle with the crushed onions.
8
In the same baking dish, whisk in the scampi sauce into the pan drippings to create a flavorful sauce, then sprinkle with chopped parsley.
9
Serve the shrimp warm, accompanied by the prepared scampi sauce.
10
For the Toffee-Apple Dip, chop the apples into small pieces. Reserve 1/2 cup of chopped apples and 1/2 cup of toffee bits for topping.
11
In a mixing bowl, combine the remaining apples with the whipped cream cheese, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until well blended and smooth.
12
Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and chill in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve.
13
Before serving, top the dip with the reserved apples and toffee bits. Surround the bowl with cinnamon sugar pita chips for dipping.
Nutrition Information
35g
Fat
69g
Carbs
19g
Protein
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary protein source in this Gourmet Stuffed Shrimp recipe?
The dish features 24 large shrimp stuffed with premium lump crab cakes.
What temperature should the oven be set to?
The oven should be preheated to 400°F (200°C).
How do you butterfly the shrimp for stuffing?
Make a slit almost through the back of each shrimp, then open and flatten them before adding the stuffing.
What is the target internal temperature for the shrimp stuffing?
The internal stuffing should reach 165°F (74°C) to ensure it is safely cooked.
How long should the stuffed shrimp bake?
Bake the shrimp for 10 to 12 minutes until they are pink and opaque.
What liquid is used in the baking dish for the shrimp?
You can use 1/3 cup of either white wine or chicken broth.
How is the scampi sauce prepared?
The scampi finishing sauce is whisked into the pan drippings in the baking dish after the shrimp have been removed.
What are the shrimp topped with after cooking?
They are sprinkled with coarsely crushed French-fried onions and chopped fresh Italian parsley.
What type of crab meat is used for the stuffing?
The recipe uses two 3-ounce premium lump crab cakes that have been thawed.
What ingredients are in the Decadent Toffee-Apple Dip?
The dip consists of sweet apples, whipped cream cheese, toffee pieces, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract.
How should the apples be prepared for the dip?
The apples should be sliced and then chopped into small pieces.
What should be reserved for topping the apple dip?
Reserve 1/2 cup of chopped apples and 1/2 cup of toffee bits to sprinkle on top before serving.
Should the apple dip be served warm or cold?
The dip should be chilled in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.
What is the best accompaniment for the Toffee-Apple Dip?
It is recommended to serve the dip with cinnamon sugar pita chips.
How many servings does this recipe provide?
This recipe is designed to yield 8 servings.
What is the calorie count per serving?
Each serving contains approximately 625 calories.
How much fat is in a single serving?
There are 35 grams of fat per serving.
What is the carbohydrate content per serving?
There are 69 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
How much protein is in each serving?
Each serving provides 19 grams of protein.
What size baking dish is needed for the shrimp?
A 9-inch square baking dish is required.
How much vanilla extract is used in the dip?
The dip requires 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
What type of sugar is used in the toffee dip?
The recipe uses both 3/4 cup of firmly packed brown sugar and 1/2 cup of granulated sugar.
Is the cream cheese softened or whipped?
The recipe specifically calls for one 8-ounce container of whipped cream cheese.
How many total ingredients are needed for this recipe?
There are 13 unique ingredients required for the shrimp and the dip.
Can I use chicken broth instead of wine?
Yes, white wine or chicken broth can be used interchangeably in the baking dish.
What kind of toffee should be used?
An 8-ounce bag of toffee pieces is used, divided between the mixture and the topping.
Is the parsley fresh or dried?
The recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of coarsely chopped fresh Italian parsley.
How much scampi sauce is required?
The recipe uses 1/2 cup of scampi finishing sauce.
Should the shrimp be peeled before cooking?
Yes, the shrimp should be peeled and deveined, but the tails should be left on.
What makes this dish ideal for special occasions?
The combination of premium crab-stuffed seafood and a sweet, creamy fruit dip provides a gourmet balance of savory and sweet flavors.