Between the people, food, and culture, San Sebastian is by far one of our favorite places we’ve ever set foot. Very much Basque but still distinctly Spanish, one of the must dos in this seaside town is a tapas crawl.
You’ll see foods familiar to tapas in Madrid and Barcelona and other flavors that are 100% Basque. This Crab-Stuffed Piquillo Peppers recipe is a variation on the tapas bars and we now make it on the regular.
Now, go stock up on all your cooking essentials, then head into the kitchen, make this, and share it with us by tagging @saltandwind and #swsociety on social!
Crab-Stuffed Piquillo Peppers Recipe
Between the people, food, and culture, San Sebastian is by far one of our favorite places we've ever set foot. Very much Basque but still distinctly Spanish, one of the must dos in this seaside town is a tapas crawl.You'll see foods familiar to tapas in Madrid and Barcelona and other flavors that are 100% Basque. This Crab-Stuffed Piquillo Peppers recipe is a variation on the tapas bars and we now make it on the regular.
Equipment
Ingredients
For The Aioli:
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 3/4 cup good-quality mayonnaise
- Juice of 1 lemon divided
- 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
- Kosher salt
For The Stuffed Peppers:
- 3 tablespoons crème fraîche
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon Mustard
- 3 tablespoons grated Manchego cheese
- 3 tablespoons finely sliced fresh chives
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves (optional)
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- 8 ounces cooked crab meat picked through
- 1 (16 ounce) jar piquillo peppers
Instructions
- Make The Aioli: Heat the paprika and vegetable oil in a small saucepan over low heat. When hot, remove the pan from the heat and allow the oil to steep at room temperature, 20 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
- Combine the mayonnaise, vinegar, and all but 1 teaspoon of the lemon juice in a food processor or blender; process until smooth and frothy. With the machine running, slowly pour in the paprika-infused oil and process until the desired consistency is reached. Season with salt.
- Fill The Peppers: Combine the crème fraîche, mustard, reserved 1 teaspoon lemon juice, manchego, parsley, chives and egg in a large bowl; mix thoroughly with a rubber spatula to combine. Gently mix in the crabmeat (do not break it up too much). Season with salt and pepper.
- Bake The Peppers: Drain the piquillo peppers thoroughly. Remove the seeds, making sure to keep the peppers whole and intact. Carefully spoon about 1 tablespoon crab filling into each pepper. Transfer to an ovenproof baking dish and heat oven to 375°F. Bake the peppers, uncovered, until heated through, about 15 minutes. Top the peppers with the aioli and return to the oven until the aioli is hot, about 2 more minutes and then serve hot.
PERSONAL NOTES
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 365kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 11gFat: 35gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 18gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 91mgSodium: 454mgPotassium: 186mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1248IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 140mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @saltandwind or tag #swsociety!
