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Fish, Americas

Chilean crab chupe with green salad

Chilean crab chupe is a baked dish of crabmeat, milk soaked bread, and melted cheese, served with a green salad. It serves 4, takes 45 minutes, is rated easy, and costs about €4.60 per person. The key to success is soaking the bread thoroughly in hot milk so it turns creamy and binds the whole filling.

Tonight, Chilean crab chupe, a creamy bake of crab, milk soaked bread, and melted cheese.

Chilean crab chupe with green salad
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€4.60
Calories per person
680 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Chilean crab chupe surprises with its texture, somewhere between a thick soup and savory bread pudding. Country bread soaked in hot milk melts into a soft cream that coats the crabmeat, while the slowly cooked onions add a mellow sweetness. A golden cheese crust seals it all together, and a touch of paprika adds quiet warmth underneath.

It's a great dish for a cold fall or winter evening when you want comfort food without spending hours in the kitchen. Kids usually love its soft texture and mild flavor, and it works just as well for a relaxed Sunday with family as for a casual dinner with friends. The green salad on the side brings the freshness this rich bake needs.

The ingredients

4 people

Fish counter

  • Crabmeat 500 g

Bakery

  • Stale country bread 150 g

Dairy

  • Milk 25 cl
  • Shredded cheese 150 g
  • Butter 40 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 2
  • Green salad 1

Pantry

  • Paprikaoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Dry white wine 10 cl
  • Vinaigrette 4 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Shellfish, Gluten, Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Crumble the bread into the hot milk and let it soften. 5 min

    Mash it with a fork into a thick paste.

  2. Cook the sliced onions in the butter until soft. 12 min

    Cover the pan at first, they'll release their water and turn sweet.

  3. Add the white wine, paprika, drained crabmeat, then the soaked bread, and mix well. 5 min

    Drain the crab thoroughly, it shouldn't make the filling watery.

  4. Divide into small baking dishes, sprinkle with cheese, and bake at 200°C. 15 min

    Finish under the broiler for a golden, bubbly top.

  5. Serve with the dressed green salad.

    A crisp salad cuts through the richness of the bake.

Our tips to get it right

  • Use country bread that's genuinely stale, it soaks up the milk without turning into a watery mush.
  • Drain the crabmeat in a fine sieve for several minutes before mixing it in, excess liquid will make the bake soggy.
  • Divide the mixture into individual baking dishes rather than one large one, it browns more evenly and faster.

The variations

  • Swap the crabmeat for imitation crab or cooked white fish flakes, it still tastes great on a tighter budget.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the crab with chopped hearts of palm or finely chopped mushrooms sauteed with the onions.
  • For a quick kid friendly version on a weeknight, skip the white wine and add a squeeze of lemon juice at the end instead.

What to serve it with

  • Dressed green salad
  • Crusty bread
  • Glass of dry white wine

Storage

Store the chupe in a covered dish in the fridge for up to 2 days. It doesn't freeze well since the bread and milk change texture once thawed. Reheat in the oven at 180°C until hot and bubbly again.

Questions about this dish

Can you make Chilean crab chupe ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the filling up to the mixing step and keep it in the fridge for a few hours. Add the cheese and bake just before serving so it browns fresh.

What crab can you use if you don't have fresh crabmeat?

Canned or frozen crabmeat works well, just drain it thoroughly first. Skip flavored imitation crab sticks, they're too sweet for this dish.

Can you freeze Chilean crab chupe?

It's not recommended, the soaked bread and milk release water as they thaw and the bake turns mushy. It's best made just before you plan to eat it.

Is this dish good for kids who don't like seafood?

The soft texture and mild flavor from the bread and cheese tone down the crab taste a lot. You can also reduce the amount of crab and add a bit more bread to balance it.

How long does it take to make a Chilean crab chupe with a green salad?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a Chilean crab chupe with a green salad?

About 680 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a Chilean crab chupe with a green salad cost?

About €4.60 per serving, or €18.40 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains shellfish, gluten, lactose. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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