Portabella Mushrooms Topped With Crab Imperial a La John Shields

Ingredients

SAUTEED MUSHROOMS

• 6 tablespoons butter (3/4 stick)
• 4 portabella mushrooms, 4-inch diameter (or 16-20 medium mushrooms, stemmed)
• 1/4 cup dry sherry

CRAB

• 2 tablespoons green bell peppers, diced
• 2 tablespoons red bell peppers, diced (or 2 tablespoons pimento)
• 1/2 cup mushroom, chopped
• 3/4 cup light mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
• 1 teaspoon capers, drained and chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
• 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
• 1 lb lump crabmeat, picked over

IMPERIAL TOPPING

• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 pinch paprika
• 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. 2

   SAUTE MUSHROOMS:.

3. 3

   Melt the butter in a skillet large enough to hold your mushrooms at one time. Saute the mushroom caps for 5 minutes, or until barely tender.

4. 4

   Pour in the sherry, turn up the heat, and reduce the liquid by half.

5. 5

   Remove from the heat and let cool.

6. 6

   Meanwhile line a baking/broiling tray with aluminum foil. Place the mushroom caps on the tray, reserving the butter/sherry liquid in the skillet.

7. 7

   MAKE CRAB MIXTURE:.

8. 8

   Saute the bell peppers and mushrooms in the reserved butter/sherry liquid until soft. Set aside.

9. 9

   Combine the mayonnaise, mustard, Worcestershire, Tabasco, capers, pepper, and Chesapeake seasoning in a small bowl and mix well. Add the sauteed peppers and mushrooms.

10. 10

    Place the crabmeat in a mixing bowl and pour the seasoned mayonnaise mixture over it. Toss gently.

11. 11

    Spoon the crabmeat mixture on top of the mushroom caps (already on the aluminum-foil-lined trays).

12. 12

    Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 to 25 minutes.

13. 13

    MAKE IMPERIAL TOPPING:.

14. 14

    Meanwhile, combine all Imperial Topping ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.

15. 15

    Preheat the broiler.

16. 16

    Spoon the topping evenly over each mound of crabmeat.

17. 17

    Broil for 1 to 2 minutes, or until nicely browned. (If broiler is unavailable, brown the top in the oven. It will take a bit longer.).

18. 18

    Serve immediately. Serves 4.