Artichoke Crab Dip Pasta Bake #FishFridayFoodies

This artichoke crab dip pasta bake starts with the main ingredients of everyone’s favorite baked artichoke dip, then adds crab, mushrooms and pasta for a delicious casserole the whole family will love.

One of our favorite things to have for a Sunday lunch is the chancre crabs found offshore the Channel Islands. They are huge, like Dungeness crabs, with wonderful flavor. We buy one per person so there are often leftovers enough to make another meal.

This pasta bake is one such. We like it so much that I’ve since made versions with shrimp and fish, so feel free to substitute your own favorite cooked seafood.

Artichoke Crab Dip Pasta Bake

If you do want to use crabmeat and don’t have leftovers from steamed crabs, by all means use the fresh picked stuff you can buy at the store. Ive used it in many recipes including Aunt Neen's Stuffed Crab.

Ingredients
1 lb or 450g shell (or your favorite shape) pasta
4 oz or 113g fresh button mushrooms
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup or 60ml butter
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups or 200g picked cooked crabmeat
1 1/2 cups or about 190g finely grated Parmesan, divided
1 cup or 240g mayonnaise (NOT Miracle Whip or salad cream – they are too sweet.)
1 can (14oz or 400g) artichoke hearts, drained weight 8 1/2oz or 240g
1 small hot red chili, minced, optional but highly recommended

Method
Cook the pasta according to package instructions, leaving it decidedly al dente. This leaves room for it to continue cooking as it bakes and to absorb the flavors of the artichoke crap dip mixture.

While the pasta is cooking, slice the mushrooms and pan fry them over a high heat in the olive oil until they turn golden, about 5-7 minutes.

Warm the butter in a small pot and add in the minced garlic. Set aside to cool. When the pasta is cooked, reserve a cup of the cooking water and drain the pasta. Set aside to cool.

Preheat your oven to 350°F or 180°C. Chop the well-drained artichokes roughly.

Mix all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl, reserving 1/2 cup or 63g of the Parmesan for topping. If it seems a bit dry, stir in some of the reserved pasta water.

Spoon the mixture into a greased baking pan. Top with the reserved cheese.

Bake in your preheated oven for about 30-35 minutes or until the pasta is heated through and golden brown.

Enjoy!

This month my Fish Friday Foodie friends are celebrating Christmas Eve in a special way, as Italian Americans do, with the feast of the seven fishes. There are no hard rules, but here is how Bon Appetit outlines it.
1st course: Appetizer or a snack
2nd course: Seafood salad
3rd course: Meaty fish, grilled or broiled
4th course: Fish in pasta
5th course: Seafood Stew
6th course: palate cleanser like gelato
7th course: light dessert such as Italian cookies

Mine, of course. is for the fourth course. Our host today is Karen from Karen's Kitchen Stories, a fellow blogger I’ve had the privilege to meet. Check out all of the lovely seafood recipes we are sharing below.

• Artichoke Crab Dip Pasta Bake from Food Lust People Love
• Baked Mussels from Caroline's Cooking
• Crab Bites from Making Miracles
• Creamy Clam Dip from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Creamy Mackerel Salad for Two from Sneha's Recipes
• Italian Seafood Salad (Insalata di Mare) from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• La Vigilia di Natale from Culinary Adventures with Camilla, who made new dishes for all of the courses for this Italian Christmas Eve dinner! Fun fact: She once spent a year in Rome and learned the food traditions of Italy. You need to check out her menu!

Would you like to join Fish Friday Foodies? We post and share new seafood/fish recipes on the third Friday of the month. To join our group please email Wendy at wendyklik1517 (at) gmail.com. Visit our Facebook page and Pinterest page for more wonderful fish and seafood recipe ideas.

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