🌟 Introduction
Seafood lovers rejoice! This Crab & Shrimp Stuffed Salmon Delight is the ultimate oceanic indulgence—flaky salmon fillets generously filled with a creamy, savory stuffing made from crab meat, shrimp, herbs, and cheeses. It’s elegant enough for special occasions yet simple enough for a weeknight dinner.
This dish marries the richness of salmon with the delicate sweetness of crab and shrimp, tied together with luscious cream cheese and the brightness of lemon and dill. Whether baked to golden perfection or grilled for a smokier finish, this recipe will impress every time.
🧂 Ingredients
🐟 For the Salmon:
4 salmon fillets (skin-on or off, about 6 oz each)
Salt & pepper to taste
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lemon (sliced, for garnish)
🦀🦐 For the Crab & Shrimp Stuffing:
4 oz cooked lump crab meat (drained, no shells)
4 oz cooked shrimp (peeled, deveined, finely chopped)
4 oz cream cheese (softened)
2 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
1 garlic clove (minced)
1 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
1 tbsp fresh dill (chopped)
1 green onion (chopped)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Zest of 1 lemon
Salt & pepper to taste
Optional: pinch of cayenne or hot sauce for a kick
🍽️ Instructions & Cooking Method
🔪 Step 1: Prepare the Stuffing
In a medium bowl, combine:
Cream cheese, mayonnaise, and mustard. Mix until smooth.
Fold in:
Crab meat, chopped shrimp, garlic, herbs, green onion, lemon zest, Parmesan, and seasoning.
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed (a dash of hot sauce gives a nice kick).
🔪 Step 2: Prepare the Salmon
Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels.
Using a sharp knife, slice a deep pocket lengthwise into the side of each fillet (but don’t cut all the way through).
Season the fillets inside and out with salt and pepper.
🧑🍳 Step 3: Stuff the Salmon
Fill each pocket with about 2-3 tablespoons of the crab-shrimp mixture.
Slightly press the filling to keep it in place.
Optional: Secure with toothpicks or kitchen twine if needed.
🔥 Step 4: Cook
Option A: Oven-Baked (Recommended)
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Place stuffed fillets in a greased baking dish or on a parchment-lined tray.
Drizzle olive oil over the top.
Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until salmon flakes easily and stuffing is hot.
Option B: Grilled
Preheat grill to medium-high.
Wrap stuffed fillets in foil packets.
Grill for 15–18 minutes with lid closed, flipping once gently.
🧠 History & Origins
Stuffed seafood dishes have a long culinary tradition, particularly along the Gulf Coast of the United States, where seafood is both abundant and culturally significant. Recipes combining crab, shrimp, and fish have roots in Creole and Cajun cooking, often involving rich spices and creamy fillings.
While salmon is more traditionally associated with northern waters (like Alaska or the Pacific Northwest), its firm texture makes it perfect for stuffing, a technique borrowed from French and Italian cuisines. The blending of shellfish into a stuffing originated as a way to use smaller, leftover seafood pieces—now it’s become a gourmet staple.
🥗 Health Benefits
This dish is not just delicious—it’s nutritious too:
🐟 Salmon:
Rich in omega-3 fatty acids
High in protein
Excellent source of B vitamins and potassium
🦐 Shrimp & Crab:
Low in fat, high in protein
Good sources of selenium and vitamin B12
Omega-3s and antioxidants like astaxanthin (shrimp)
🧀 Other Benefits:
Herbs like dill and parsley aid digestion and add antioxidants.
Lemon provides vitamin C and brightness to balance richness.