Seafood Stuffing (and Make-ahead Stuffed Mushrooms)

This is a basic New England style seafood stuffing using Ritz crackers that can be used to stuff mushrooms, seafood, or even as a topping for baked fish. I incorporated some of my favorite ingredients from different recipes. I've included a recipe for stuffed mushrooms that can be prepared and refrigerated for up to 2 days before, or frozen for up to a month, since the mushrooms are pre-cooked. Using small mushrooms, this recipe will fill about a pound of mushrooms, about 20-25 if you use small appetizer-sized ones. You can include the chopped mushrooms stems if you like, but I usually leave them out, and use them another time. Time is for making the stuffing only, since the mushrooms have some variations. Amount is approximately for stuffing.

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Yields: 2 1/2 cups (approximately)

Ingredients

• Stuffing

• 6  ounces  round  buttery crackers (ritz -- see note)
• 1  tablespoon dried parsley flakes (or 3 tbs. fresh -- minced)
• 1  tablespoon olive oil
• 5  tablespoons butter, divided
• 2  tablespoons  finely minced celery
• 1⁄4 cup carrot, finely chopped or coarsely grated
• 1⁄4 cup  finely chopped green onion, green & white parts
• 1⁄4 cup  finely chopped green pepper
• 1  teaspoon  finely minced garlic
• 4  ounces  cooked chopped  seafood (shrimp, crabmeat, artificial crab, scallops, lobster, or a mixture of any of the above)
• 1  teaspoon  Old Bay Seasoning or 1  teaspoon  other  seafood seasoning
• 3⁄4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1  tablespoon sherry wine or 1  tablespoon madeira wine or 1  tablespoon marsala
• 1  tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1⁄2 cup water or 1⁄2 cup chicken broth or 1⁄2 cup vegetable broth or 1⁄2 cup  clam juice
•  fresh ground black pepper
•  salt, if desired
•  paprika

• Mushrooms

• 1  lb mushroom (small or large)
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
•  lemon wedge (to garnish)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, finely crush the crackers and mix in the parsley flakes.
2. Set aside.
3. Heat the 1 tbs.
4. olive oil and 3 tbs.
5. butter on a medium to high heat, watching carefully.
6. When hot and just starting to bubble, add the celery and carrots.
7. Cook, stirring occasionally, for one minute.
8. Add the onions and green peppers (and mushrooms if using-- see directions for make-ahead mushrooms below) and cook for another minute.
9. Add the garlic and cook for another 1/2 minute to a minute until vegetables are tender.
10. Remove from heat and pour entire vegetable and butter mixture into crushed crackers.
11. Add the chopped seafood, old bay seasoning, netmeg, sherry, worcestershire sauce, clam juice, and pepper to taste.
12. Mix well so the seasonings are evenly distributed.
13. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.
14. I find the salt in the crackes and other ingredients is enough, but if you prefer you can add some additional salt at this time.
15. Makes about 2 to 2 1/2 cups stuffing.
16. To prepare Make-Ahead Stuffed Mushrooms: Preheat oven to 425.
17. Remove stems from mushrooms and wash the mushrooms.
18. (Save stems for another use, or you can chop them finely and add to the stuffing if desired by adding them along with the onions and green pepper to the butter. If doing so, add another 1/2 tbs. butter. However, I think this stuffing is better without them).
19. Toss mushrooms with 1 1/2 tsp.
20. olive oil and salt and place them in a shallow baking pan in one layer.
21. Bake for 8-10 minutes (depending on size of mushrooms) and remove from oven to cool.
22. Stuff the mushrooms evenly with the stuffing.
23. Place in a shallow baking dish and sprinkle evenly with paprika.
24. At this point you can refrigerate the mushrooms for up to 2 days, or freeze them for up to a month; thaw at least partially before cooking.
25. When ready to serve, melt the remaining 2 tbs.
26. of butter.
27. Drizzle evenly over the mushrooms.
28. If the mushrooms are room temperature, just broil them until the tops are crispy and they are heated through.
29. If they are refrigerated or partially frozen, bake at 350 until heated through, then just run under the broiler for a few seconds to crisp the top, if necessary.
30. Serve garnished with lemon wedges.