Spinach Artichoke and Crawfish Dip

Ingredients

• 1 lb crawfish tail meat, coarsely chopped
• 1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 1 lb frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained and squeezed dry
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 1 shallot, diced
• 1 bell pepper, peeled and diced
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1-2 oz pickled jalapeno (8-20)
• 12 oz (3 C) shredded mozzarella cheese (divided use)
• 8 oz (2 C) smoked gouda cheese (divided use)
• ¼ C grated Parmesan cheese (divided use)
• 8 oz (1 C) sour cream
• 8 oz cream cheese, cubed and softened
• 1 tbs Cajun seasoning
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 1 tbs Louisiana hot sauce
• 2 tbs cooking oil or butter
• 1 tbs rice wine
• ½ C crispy Jalapeno pieces (Optional)

Directions

1. Prep Oven: Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Mix Cheeses: Combine Gouda, mozzarella, and Parmesan; set aside.
3. Sauté Base: Heat oil or butter over medium-high. Sauté onions and celery until limp and onions begin to color.
4. Add Crawfish: Stir in crawfish tail meat and Creole seasoning. Deglaze with rice wine and hot sauce. Remove from heat and stir in cream cheese to incorporate; set aside.
5. Mix Dip: In a large bowl, combine artichoke hearts, spinach, sour cream, minced garlic, black pepper, and ½ of the cheese mixture. Stir in the crawfish mixture until well blended.
6. Assemble: Spoon into a buttered 1½-qt baking dish.
7. Bake: Top with remaining cheese and jalapeño pieces. Bake 30-45 minutes, until bubbly and golden brown.
8. Serve: Serve hot with toasted naan, pita chips, tortilla chips, water crackers, or melba toast.

Chef's Notes

• Season Assertively: Over-season the crawfish - the cream cheese and sour cream will mellow the overall flavor.
• Jalapeño Boost: Add pickled jalapeños, and use more than you think you'll need for proper heat and tang.
• Cheese Swap: Medium cheddar can replace smoked Gouda, but note it will be oilier and saltier.
• Salt Check: If using a salted Cajun seasoning, taste before adding extra salt or consider using a salt-free Cajun seasoning alternative.
• Seafood Options: Crawfish can be supplemented or replaced with crabmeat or shrimp.
• Alternate Serving: Spoon dip into buttered ramekins and air-fry at 400°F for ~15 minutes for individual portions.