Description
These King Crab Quesadillas are a delightful fusion of fresh, succulent crab meat marinated with lime, jalapeño, and spices, layered with melted Monterey Jack cheese between warm, toasted flour tortillas. Perfect for a quick yet flavorful meal, this recipe brings a seafood twist to the classic Mexican quesadilla.
Ingredients
Scale
Crab Mixture
- 1/4 pound crab meat (thawed)
- Juice and zest of 1 lime
- 1 jalapeño, chopped
- 1 green onion, chopped
- 1 handful of cilantro, chopped
- 1 teaspoon cumin, toasted and ground
- Salt and pepper to taste
Quesadillas
- 2 flour tortillas
- A touch of butter or oil
- 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, grated
Instructions
- Boil and Cool the Crab Meat: Boil the crab meat in a pot of water for about 3 minutes to heat through. Then immediately rinse the crab meat in cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Prepare Crab Pieces: Remove any shells from the crab meat and cut the meat into bite-sized pieces for easy layering in the quesadilla.
- Marinate the Crab: In a bowl, combine the lime juice, lime zest, chopped jalapeño, green onion, cilantro, toasted cumin, salt, and pepper. Add the crab meat and mix well, allowing it to marinate for 10 to 30 minutes to infuse the flavors.
- Toast the Tortillas: Heat a small amount of butter or oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place one tortilla in the skillet and cook until air pockets form, flipping as needed. Repeat this step with the second tortilla and set aside.
- Assemble and Cook Quesadilla: Drain any excess liquid from the crab mixture. Spread the crab evenly over one of the toasted tortillas still in the skillet, then sprinkle the grated Monterey Jack cheese over the crab. Place the second tortilla on top.
- Cook Until Golden and Melty: Cook the assembled quesadilla until it is golden brown on the bottom and the cheese has melted, then carefully flip it and cook the other side until golden brown as well.
- Serve and Enjoy: Remove from heat and serve immediately while warm and cheesy for maximum enjoyment.
Notes
- Ensure the crab meat is thoroughly rinsed after boiling to remove any residual shells and excess salt.
- Adjust jalapeño quantity according to your preferred spice level.
- Use freshly toasted cumin for more aromatic flavor.
- Butter or oil can be substituted depending on dietary preferences.
- Serve quesadillas with sour cream or guacamole for added flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican Fusion
