Cheesy Baked Crab Dip With Barnacle Foods Kelp Pickles

1. Set a rack in the lower part of your oven, and a separate rack 4 to 6 inches from your oven’s broiler element. Preheat oven to 375F.

2. In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, Old Bay, Kelp Pickles and lemon zest. Add white parts of the sliced scallions into the bowl. Stir into a soft, smooth mixture.

3. In a small bowl, combine mozzarella and Monterey Jack cheese. Add a third of the shredded cheeses to the cream cheese mixture, stirring together until just combined. Set aside remaining two-thirds of the cheese mixture.

4. Gently fold crab meat into the cream cheese mixture, then spoon the mixture into a small baking dish. Spread into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheeses and green onions over the top, reserving some green onions for garnish. Season generously with black pepper.

5. Transfer dish to the lower rack of your oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and starting to brown. Optional: For an especially browned finish, carefully move the crab dip to the top rack of your oven, then broil on high for 1 to 2 minutes until it is done to your liking. Keep a close eye on the dish as it broils to avoid burning.

6. Carefully remove the dip from the oven and top with more freshly cracked black pepper. Serve immediately with your favorite toast or crackers, kelp pickles, lemon wedges, and extra sprinkling of green onions.

Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase your risk of food-borne illness, especially if you have a certain medical condition. The FDA recommends an internal temperature of 145°F for cooked fish.