Crab Au Gratin Recipe

A simple crab au gratin recipe is adapted from one of a much loved, but long gone restaurant on the Georgia coast. It can be jazzed up with seasonings and spices if you prefer and is best served as a dip or spread.

Where the recipe originated

Go into any bar, restaurant or gathering of people along the Georgia coastal area which includes the islands of Jekyll, St. Simons and Sea Island and say the words “Emmaline and Hessie” and you’ve sparked a conversation.

Gone for many years now, the restaurant was named for two ferries which ran between the mainland and the islands before the causeways were built. Emmaline and Hessie’s was, of course, known for seafood. The memories created there are treasured to this day.

At one time there was a cookbook written with many of the favorite Emmaline and Hessie recipes. It’s out of print now, but a family member of mine who lives in the area came by a copy and shared it with me temporarily. That’s where I found the original crab au gratin recipe.

Crabmeat au gratin as a dip or spread

Back in the Emmaline and Hessie days it was served as a main dish. Our tastes now run to lighter main dishes so we’ve adapted it to be offered as a dip or spread.

To read more about how our southern cuisine is adapting to today’s healthier lifestyles you’ll want to check out Southern Food: Then and Now.

Here we’re serving it in a small cast iron baking dish and dipping with toasted baquette slices and celery sticks. But you could offer any type of sturdy veggie and the crackers or flatbread of your choice.

Emmaline and Hessie’s version was also made with mild cheddar cheese and we much prefer a sharp cheddar. You can handle that choice any way you like.

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Make your crab au gratin spicy or keep it mild

The original recipe is very simple with the predominant flavors being the crab meat and the cheese. You can certainly punch up the flavor with some seasonings, though.

We love Cajun and Creole flavors and you’ll find a lot of those recipes around here. In fact, our Cajun Crab Dip and Jambalaya Dip both use our favorite Tony Chachere’s Original. A spoonful of it in this crab au gratin would be super tasty!

If you’re an Old Bay lover add a teaspoon at the end, or for just a kick of heat how about ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper?

The basics of how to make it:

• Start with good quality lump crabmeat, jumbo lump if you can find it. The crabmeat can be fresh, frozen that has been thawed, or canned that has been drained.
• Make a basic cream sauce (specific directions are in the recipe card below).
• Use a good cheddar cheese that you have grated yourself.
• A small baking dish that holds heat well is great for your crab au gratin. This is similar to ours.

More seafood favorites

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