Served these spicy crab salad tapas at a party and everyone went wild! These delicious morsels have a crispy flaky outside filled with creamy sweet crab that has a little kick.

  • Total Time
    Prep: 35 min. + chilling Bake: 20 min. + cooling
  • Makes
    about 2 dozen

Ingredients

  • 1 can (16 ounces) lump crabmeat, drained
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped sweet red pepper
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped sweet yellow pepper
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 package (17.3 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • Optional: Minced fresh parsley and seafood seasoning

    Directions

    • Preheat oven to 375°. Combine the first 12 ingredients. Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour.
    • Meanwhile, on a lightly floured surface, unfold puff pastry. Roll each pastry into a 10-in. square; cut each into twenty-five 2-in. squares. Using a round 1-1/2-in. cookie cutter, cut out the centers of half the puff pastry squares. Whisk egg and water; brush over pastry. Place cutout squares on top of solid squares; transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets.
    • Bake until golden brown, about 18 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Once cool, spoon 1 heaping tablespoon of crab salad into the center of each cooked pastry. If desired, top with minced parsley and seasoning. Serve immediately.
    Test Kitchen tips

  • If you want to boost the heat, sprinkle each one with a little cayenne pepper.
  • The puff pastry shells can be made a few hours ahead of time and filled as your guests are walking up to the door.
  • To keep your pastry from bending over while baking, make sure you cut them straight up and down without twisting the knife.

  • Nutrition Facts

    1 appetizer: 145 calories, 9g fat (2g saturated fat), 25mg cholesterol, 240mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 2g fiber), 5g protein.