This elegant Southern-style dish features tender flounder steaks stuffed with a rich mixture of fresh crabmeat, diced country ham, and seasoned white bread. The combination of sweet crab and salty ham creates a deeply savory filling that contrasts beautifully with the delicate white fish. Baked until flaky and golden, the fish is finished with a bright lemon-butter sauce that enhances the natural flavors. It is an impressive yet manageable main course perfect for special weeknight dinners or entertaining guests who appreciate classic coastal cuisine. The dish offers a luxurious texture and robust flavor profile that feels both comforting and refined.
Stuffed Flounder
Description
This elegant Southern-style dish features tender flounder steaks stuffed with a rich mixture of fresh crabmeat, diced country ham, and seasoned white bread. The combination of sweet crab and salty ham creates a deeply savory filling that contrasts beautifully with the delicate white fish. Baked until flaky and golden, the fish is finished with a bright lemon-butter sauce that enhances the natural flavors. It is an impressive yet manageable main course perfect for special weeknight dinners or entertaining guests who appreciate classic coastal cuisine. The dish offers a luxurious texture and robust flavor profile that feels both comforting and refined.Ingredients
Directions
-
Preheat the oven to 350ðF (177ðC).
-
Lay the flounder steaks skin-side down on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, make an incision along the center of each steak down to the backbone, stopping just short of the head and tail ends.
-
Carefully slip the knife between the flesh and the backbone at an oblique angle. Run the knife along the ribs on both sides of the backbone to create a pocket for the stuffing, keeping the bottom layer of flesh intact.
-
In a heavy sauté pan, melt half of the unsalted butter over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion, celery, and bell pepper. Sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the onions become transparent and the vegetables are tender.
-
In a large mixing bowl, combine the sautéed vegetables with the crabmeat, torn white bread, beaten eggs, chopped parsley, diced country ham, and Amontillado sherry.
-
Season the stuffing mixture with salt and freshly ground pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning carefully, remembering that the country ham is already salty.
-
Gently stuff the flounder pockets with the crab and ham mixture. Do not overfill; pack it in lightly to allow the fish to cook evenly.
-
Brush a glass baking pan with some of the remaining melted butter. Place the stuffed flounder steaks in the prepared pan.
-
Mix the remaining melted butter with the juice of one lemon. Pour this lemon-butter mixture evenly over the stuffed fish.
-
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 4
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 290.7kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 16.1g25%
- Saturated Fat 6.7g34%
- Cholesterol 82.0mg28%
- Sodium 82.8mg4%
- Total Carbohydrate 4.5g2%
- Dietary Fiber 1.3g6%
- Sugars 2.2g
- Protein 29.6g60%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
