Rosemarie’s Recipes: Shrimp and Crab Dip

October 4, 2019

This dip will win over the stomach of any fan with the munchies.

By Rosemarie Aquilina

Photography by Derrick Martinez

This appetizer fools guests: It looks like pizza, but it’s a dip. When there is a large gathering at my house, I make a shrimp plate and a crab plate; if it is a smaller gathering I use one platter and make half shrimp and half crab. It’s pretty on any table and an outstanding addition for all occasions from tailgates to holidays.

Shrimp and Crab Dip

Serves 6

1 8-ounce block cream cheese, room temperature

1 tablespoon real mayonnaise

1 tablespoon dried minced onion

Dash salt or salt substitute

3 shakes Worcestershire sauce

3 shakes Tabasco sauce

1 12-ounce bottle cocktail sauce (or 1 12-ounce bottle chili sauce with 1/3 jar horseradish)

2 cans small cleaned deveined shrimp (dice shrimp from one can and use whole shrimps from the second) rinsed in cold water and drained well

1 to 2 cans crabmeat, rinsed and drained well

Chopped fresh parsley for garnish, about ½ cup or as desired

Directions

Mix first six ingredients in mixer until well blended. Taste and adjust flavor. (If making two platters, double the base ingredients, mixing all at once and divide between two platters.) At this point, you can refrigerate to allow flavors to blend, if desired, or spread and then refrigerate, or simply proceed. Letting the flavors blend a few hours works well, but it is flavorful enough to eat soon after you make it.

Place mixture in center of 12-inch round plate. With back of a spoon or frosting knife spread over the plate almost to the edge. Spread about ¾ of the jar of cocktail sauce evenly using the back of a clean spoon or butter knife. Use more if needed.

Dice shrimp from the first can and spread evenly. This ensures every bite has a nice taste of shrimp. Then, with the second can, spread the whole tiny shrimp evenly around the plate.

If using crab, sprinkle evenly over cocktail sauce followed by parsley.

Finish sprinkling fresh parsley over all. Serve with a variety of crackers.

If this is your only appetizer, you may want to make a backup. It goes quickly!