Gourmet Seafood Fusion: Grilled Crab & Gruyere Cheese Sandwich

The Starving Chef is supported by Hungry People like you. When you make a purchase through an affiliate link on my site, I may earn a little bit of cash on the side (at no extra cost to you) to help keep my kitchen running. Read our disclosures here.

What’s Up, Hungry People!

Today, I want to share a mouthwatering creation that happened by accident. You know how sometimes you have leftover ingredients lying around, and you’re not quite sure what to do with them? Well, that’s exactly what happened to me recently.

I had just made a crab cake recipe and found myself with a sizable amount of leftover lump crab meat. Now, wasting good food is not my style, so I put on my thinking chef’s hat and decided to take up the weekly challenge: sandwiches! It was time to experiment and see what magic could unfold between two slices of bread.

The Result: Cheesy Crab Delight!

To my surprise, my culinary experiment turned out to be an absolute winner! I proudly present to you the Grilled Crab & Cheese Sandwich, a delectable treat that will make your taste buds dance with joy. Picture this: a perfectly golden, crispy exterior with a warm, gooey interior filled with mouthwatering crab meat and melted cheese. Can you say “yum”?

Now, before we dive into the recipe, let me explain the sheer deliciousness that awaits you when you try this sandwich. The combination of the rich and savory crab meat with the ooey-gooey goodness of melted cheese is a match made in culinary heaven. The flavors meld together beautifully, creating a symphony of taste that will leave you craving more.

Here’s What You Need

  • Lump crab meat: Provides the star ingredient and delicious seafood flavor.
  • Mayonnaise: Adds creaminess and helps bind the crab filling together.
  • Gruyere: Melts into a gooey, flavorful layer of cheese in the sandwich.
  • Onion: Adds a savory and aromatic element to the crab filling.
  • Cayenne pepper: Adds a subtle kick of heat to enhance the flavors.
  • Lemon juice: Brightens the taste and complements the crab meat with its citrusy tang.
  • Butter: Melts and coats the bread, giving it a golden brown crust and rich flavor.
  • Sourdough bread: Provides a sturdy base and toasts up beautifully for the sandwich.

Let’s Cook!

  1. First things first, heat up a skillet or a griddle pan over medium heat. We want it nice and toasty for that golden, crispy exterior.
  2. While the pan is heating, let’s assemble our sandwich. Take two slices of bread and generously pile on the leftover lump crab meat. Spread it evenly across one slice, ensuring every bite is packed with that crabby goodness.
  3. Now, it’s time to add the cheese. Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded cheese on top of the crab meat. This will be the glue that holds all the flavors together.
  4. Place the second slice of bread on top to complete your sandwich. Press it down gently to ensure everything stays intact during the grilling process.
  5. Grab a knob of butter and generously spread it on the outer sides of the sandwich. This will give us that irresistible golden crust when it hits the heat.
  6. Carefully place the sandwich onto the preheated pan, buttered side down. Hear that sizzle? That’s the sound of deliciousness in the making!
  7. Grill the sandwich for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until it turns a beautiful golden brown and the cheese has melted into a gooey paradise.
  8. Once perfectly grilled, remove the sandwich from the pan and let it cool for a moment. Don’t worry; I won’t make you wait too long!
  9. Finally, slice your Grilled Crab & Cheese Sandwich diagonally (because it looks fancier that way) and serve it up hot on a plate.

Tips for Making Grilled Crab & Cheese Sandwiches

  • Handle the lump crab meat gently: Be careful not to break up the crab meat too much when mixing it with the other ingredients to maintain those satisfying lumps of crab in the sandwich.
  • Adjust the cayenne pepper to your preference: If you enjoy spicier flavors, feel free to increase the amount of cayenne pepper. Conversely, reduce or omit it if you prefer a milder taste.
  • Choose the right bread: Opt for thick-cut slices of sourdough bread, as they provide a sturdy base that can hold up to the crab filling and grilling process without becoming soggy.
  • Grate extra Gruyere on top: Adding extra grated Gruyere on top of the crab filling before grilling creates an extra layer of cheesy deliciousness.
  • Preheat the pan properly: Ensure that the pan is preheated over medium heat before adding the sandwiches. This helps achieve a golden, crispy exterior.
  • Use enough butter: Generously spread butter on the outer sides of the sandwich to achieve that perfect golden crust and enhance the flavor.
  • Grill at the right temperature: Aim for a medium heat when grilling the sandwiches. This allows the bread to toast evenly without burning.
  • Flip with care: When flipping the sandwiches, use a spatula to gently lift and turn them over to avoid losing any of the filling.
  • Don’t overcrowd the pan: If using a smaller pan, cook the sandwiches in batches to prevent overcrowding, which can result in uneven cooking.
  • Experiment with additional ingredients: Feel free to get creative and add extra ingredients like sliced tomatoes, avocado, or crispy bacon for additional flavor and texture.

Now, Hungry People, it’s time to dig in and savor the incredible flavors of this grilled crab & cheese sandwich. Each bite is a burst of savory crab, creamy cheese, and that unbeatable crunch from the perfectly toasted bread. It’s a sandwich that elevates the humble ingredients into something truly special.

So, the next time you find yourself with leftover crab meat, don’t let it go to waste! Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think. Remember, cooking is all about experimenting and having fun in the kitchen. Get creative, explore new flavors, and enjoy the culinary journey!

crab-cheese-sandwich

Grilled Crab & Cheese Sandwich

The Starving Chef
A delectable combination of lump crab meat, melted Gruyere cheese, and savory seasonings grilled between slices of sourdough bread for a crispy, gooey, and flavor-packed sandwich.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dinner, Sandwiches
Cuisine Sandwich, Seafood
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups lump crab meat
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup gruyere shredded
  • ¼ cup onion chopped
  • ¼ teaspoons cayenne pepper
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon parsley
  • 4 tablespoons butter + more as needed
  • 4 thick-cut slices sourdough bread + more as needed

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl, combine the crab meat, mayonnaise, Gruyere, onion, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, and parsley. Make sure all the ingredients are well mixed.
  • Spread the crab filling over one slice of sourdough bread. Grate additional Gruyere over the crab and place a second slice of bread on top to create a sandwich. Repeat this step with the remaining crab filling and slices of bread.
  • In a pan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted and the pan is hot, add the sandwiches one at a time (or in pairs if using a larger pan).
  • Grill the sandwiches for 2-3 minutes or until the bread is golden brown. Then, carefully flip the sandwiches and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until the bread is browned, the crab is cooked through, and the cheese is melted.
  • Remove the sandwiches from the pan and let them cool for a moment. Finally, slice and serve them hot. Enjoy!

Video

Keyword cheese, crab, sandwich
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!