Description
Creamy seafood stuffed shells bring coastal Italian flavors right to your dinner table, blending succulent shrimp and crab with rich cheese and herbs. Guests will savor each luxurious bite of this elegant pasta dish that promises a delightful Mediterranean-inspired dining experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood:
- 1/2 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined, and chopped
- 1/2 pound lump crab meat
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella (for topping)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan (for topping)
Other Ingredients:
- 20 jumbo pasta shells, cooked al dente
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups Alfredo sauce
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375F (190C) and lightly coat a baking dish with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Create a flavor base by sautéing minced garlic in olive oil for 60 seconds until fragrant and translucent.
- Quickly cook shrimp in the garlic-infused oil until they turn pink and opaque, approximately 2 minutes.
- Craft the seafood filling by blending ricotta, cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, beaten egg, chopped parsley, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
- Gently incorporate cooked crab and shrimp into the creamy cheese mixture, ensuring even distribution.
- Carefully stuff each pasta shell with the rich seafood filling, arranging them neatly in the prepared baking dish.
- Generously drizzle Alfredo sauce over the stuffed shells, creating an even coating.
- Sprinkle additional mozzarella and Parmesan cheese across the top for extra richness.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Remove foil and continue baking for 10 more minutes until the top turns golden and edges become crispy.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately while hot and bubbling.
Notes
- Select fresh, high-quality seafood to elevate the dish’s flavor and ensure optimal taste and texture.
- Avoid overcooking shrimp to prevent rubbery consistency; they should turn pink and curl slightly.
- Drain excess liquid from ricotta cheese to prevent watery filling and maintain a creamy, thick texture.
- Consider gluten-free alternative by using gluten-free pasta shells for those with dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 20
- Calories: 464
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 487 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 49 g
- Cholesterol: 176 mg