Ingredients

  • 12 cup unsalted butter
  • 14 cup finely chopped sweet onion
  • 12 lb sliced white mushroom
  • 13 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 tablespoon cream sherry
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 12 cups finely shredded swiss cheese (Gruyere)
  • 1 lb lump crabmeat, picked over for shells and cartilage
  • salt
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • 2 cups cooked rice
  • 1 cup crushed buttery cracker crumb (such as Ritz)
  • 12 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 2 tablespoons pure olive oil

Method

  • Melt the butter in a medium saute pan over medium heat; add in onion; saute for 2 minutes, until onion is softened.
  • Add in mushrooms; saute until mushroom liquid is absorbed and the mushrooms begin to color, 5-7 minutes.
  • Sprinkle the flour and Old Bay seasoning over the vegetables; cook, stirring to cook the flour, for about 2 minutes.
  • Slowly add in the milk, scraping up any bits stuck to the bottom of the pan, and bring the sauce to a boil.
  • Add in the sherry and Worcestershire sauce; stir to blend.
  • Remove the pan from heat and add the cheese a little at a time, stirring until all the cheese is melted.
  • Fold in the crabmeat, being careful not to break up the lumps; season with salt and pepper.
  • Coat the bottom of a 2 quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Stir about 1 cup of the crab mixture into the rice, and line the bottom of the casserole with the rice.
  • Top with the remaining crab mixture.
  • Preheat oven to 350; in a small bowl, stir together the cracker crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and parsley.
  • Toss with the oil until moist; sprinkle the crumbs over the casserole and bake for 25-30 minutes, until bubbling and the topping is golden; let rest for 5 minutes before serving hot.