Pastel de Jaiba
A rich and flavorful Chilean casserole made with fresh crab meat, a creamy sauce, and a mashed potato or pumpkin topping.
🧂 Ingredients
- 500 g Fresh crab meat(picked and cleaned)
- 1 medium Onion(finely chopped)
- 2 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 2 tbsp All-purpose flour
- 1.5 cups Milk
- 0.5 cup White wine
- 0.5 cup Heavy cream
- 0.25 cup Parsley(chopped)
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground)
- 1 kg Potatoes(peeled and boiled until tender)
- 2 tbsp Butter(for mashing potatoes)
- 0.25 cup Milk(for mashing potatoes)
- 50 g Parmesan cheese(grated, for topping)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Sauté the chopped onion in butter in a large pan over medium heat until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- 2
Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- 3
Stir in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes to form a roux.
- 4
Gradually whisk in the milk and white wine until smooth. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened.
- 5
Stir in the heavy cream, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Add the crab meat and gently mix to combine. Cook for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
- 6
Mash the boiled potatoes with butter and milk until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper.
- 7
Pour the crab mixture into a baking dish. Spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the top.
- 8
Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Use fresh, high-quality crab meat for the best flavor.
- ✓If fresh crab is unavailable, good quality canned or frozen crab meat can be used, but drain it very well.
- ✓For a richer topping, you can use mashed pumpkin (zapallo) instead of potatoes.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a little heat.
- Include a tablespoon of chopped chives for extra freshness.