Description

This savory Crab Brûlée recipe transforms the classic French dessert into an elegant seafood masterpiece. Blending rich custard with fresh crab meat and a caramelized sugar crust, it’s the perfect fusion of creamy, savory, and crisp textures. Ideal for dinner parties and gourmet entertaining.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup fresh crab meat (cooked and shredded)
2 cups heavy cream
4 large egg yolks
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
A pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
1 tbsp chopped chives or dill (for garnish)
4 tbsp granulated sugar (for caramelized topping)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Place 4 ramekins in a deep baking dish.
Warm the cream in a saucepan until hot but not boiling.
In a bowl, whisk egg yolks, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Gradually whisk in the warm cream.
Fold in crab meat gently.
Pour the mixture into ramekins, filling each ¾ full.
Fill the baking dish with hot water halfway up the ramekins.
Bake for 30–40 minutes until the custard is set but slightly jiggly. Cool, then refrigerate for 2+ hours.
Before serving, sprinkle sugar on top and caramelize using a torch or broiler.

Garnish with chives or dill. Serve immediately.

Notes

Use Dungeness or Blue Crab for best flavor.
Can be made a day in advance (caramelize sugar just before serving).
Try variations like cheesy crab brûlée or spicy jalapeño-infused versions.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Gourmet Seafood
Method: Baked
Cuisine: French-American Fusion

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 ramekin (approx. 150g)
Calories: 230 kcal
Sugar: 3 g
Sodium: 300 mg
Fat: 18 g
Saturated Fat: 10 g
Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
Carbohydrates: 4 g
Protein: 10 g
Cholesterol: 100 mg

Keywords: Crab brûlée, savory crème brûlée, seafood custard, gourmet appetizer