Southwest Crab Phyllo Bites

*This Southwest Crab Phyllo Bites recipe is sponsored by Shamrock Farms, makers of farm fresh, hormone-free dairy products, though all opinions expressed are my own.  Seriously, I only endorse stuff that I would actually pay real cash-money to buy for myself.

Southwest Crab Phyllo Bites

Can I get a show of hands for how many of you love hors d’oeuvres?  C’mon, who doesn’t love a decadent spread of delightful finger foods and passed appetizers while clinking glasses of bubbly beverages?  It’s the stuff that holiday memories are made of!  So, let me just put these Southwest Crab Phyllo Bites right here for you to consider for your soiree.

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It’s an east-meets-west appetizer that features Shamrock Farms’ Zesty Jalapeno sour cream.   It’s the perfect ingredient to make the zippy creamy filling for this new take on a crab puff.  Not only is the hint of jalapeno a fun kick, but Shamrock Farms is known for their pure, wholesome dairy products with no added hormones.

crab phyllo bites

If you want to visit their farm first-hand, I’ll actually be there December 3rd and 4th for their annual Joy to the Herd event.  It’s a fun day for the whole family with 15 tons of real snow, an interactive farm tour and, yours truly, serving up tasty treats in a live demo.  Visit their website for tickets and details.

There is one element of this recipe that requires a bit of warning, though.  Phyllo dough can be a bit temperamental.  If it sits, exposed to the air for any amount of time, it will stiffen up and become brittle, making it impossible to manipulate.  My recommendation when working with phyllo is to unroll it from the packaging then place it under a dish towel, only uncovering it to grab sheets to assemble your crab bites.  Otherwise, when not using it, keep it sealed or covered to prevent drying.

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But, outside of that, this is a simple recipe.  Mix the filling, roll it into square shaped crab “envelopes” then fry and serve.  And, if the reaction of my official taste testers is any indication, these will be the first thing to be annihilated on your holiday table.

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And, in case you want to support a great cause this holiday season, Shamrock Farms is participating in the Great American Milk Drive .  How can you help?  Head to Facebook and ‘share’ this recipe, tagging “Shamrock Farms”.  They will donate a gallon of milk to our local Feeding America Food Bank, St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance (up to 1,000 gallons from among their awareness partners) for every share!  Sharing is caring and ’tis the season.

Much love to you and yours and happy entertaining!

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Southwest Crab Phyllo Bites


  • Author: Joanie Simon
  • Total Time: 45 mins
  • Yield: 18 - 24 bites 1x

Description

An easy appetizer for creamy crab with jalapeno inside crispy phyllo pockets.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 8oz pepper jack cheese shredded
  • 4oz diced green chiles, canned
  • 9 oz crab meat
  • 1 diced piquillo pepper
  • 2 scallions, diced
  • 6oz Shamrock Farms Jalapeno Sour Cream
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 16 oz package phyllo dough thawed
  • oil for frying

Instructions

  1. Preheat frying oil to 350F in a heavy bottomed pot or a fryer.
  2. Combine shredded jack cheese, green chiles, crab meat, piquillo pepper, scallions, sour cream, pepper and salt and mix until fully combined.
  3. Unroll phyllo dough and cut into four sections, then place under a kitchen towel when not being used.
  4. Take three to four sheets from one of the cut sections of phyllo and place on a clean work surface. Place a Tablespoon – 2 Tablespoon dollop of filling in the lower center of the phyllo then fold it up over once so as to cover the filling. Then take water and brush around the edges. Then fold in the right and left edges toward the center to create an envelope, then fold it up toward the top to complete the “package” and seal with a dab of water on the outside edge. Continue with remaining filling and phyllo.
  5. Drop phyllo packets one or two at a time into the fry oil and fry 45 seconds, then flip and fry another 45 to 90 seconds until fully browned and crisped. Place on a paper towel on a baking sheet in the oven at 200F to keep warm while the rest are fried.
  6. Serve hot.
  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Cuisine: Southwest

*Original recipe by Joanie Simon

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