Indulge in these irresistible Cheesy Shrimp Phyllo Melts, succulent shrimp meet their cheesy match inside a delicate, golden-brown phyllo cup. With a delightful crunch of phyllo pastry and the rich, savory flavors of shrimp and cheese, this recipe is an absolute crowd-pleaser.
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This recipe combines the elegance of a delicate phyllo pastry with the rich flavors of shrimp and cheese, creating a finger food recipe that's bound to impress your friends and family. This recipe can easily be adapted to make on toast as a shrimp crostini or as a cheesy shrimp dip. But making it in these delicate and crunchy little phyllo cups is my favorite way.
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Ingredients
- Salad shrimp
- Mayonaise
- Garlic
- Cheddar Cheese
- Dill
- Phyllo shells
- Lemon Juice
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat Your Oven Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In the preheated oven toast up your phyllo cups empty for about 5 minutes.
Step 2: Prepare the Shrimp Filling In a mixing bowl, combine the salad shrimp with a splash of lemon juice (reserve some shrimp to garnish) and ⅓ cup of mayonnaise, 4 oz of shredded cheddar cheese, minced 4 garlic cloves, and some fresh dill. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir until all ingredients are well combined.
Step 3: Assemble the Melts Fill the toasted phyllo shells with the cheesy shrimp filling about 1 teaspoon in each shell. It should fill the shell and have a little extra on top. Top each shell with a small salad shrimp.
Step 4: Bake to Perfection Bake the Shrimp Melts in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crisp and the cheese is melted.
Substitutions
Feel free to customize this recipe to suit your taste or dietary preferences. Here are some substitution ideas:
- Phyllo shells: If you can't find phyllo shells, you can phyllo dough and make your own cups/ shells using a mini muffin pan.
- Cheese: Mix and match your favorite cheeses, mozzarella works well in this recipe as well.
- Shrimp: Substitute shrimp with cooked chicken, crab, or even sautéed mushrooms for a vegetarian option.
- Herbs: Experiment with different herbs like parsley, or basil to change up the flavor profile.
Variations
- Make this recipe as a shrimp dip by filling a baking dish with the cheesy shrimp mixture and baking in a preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes. Serve with you favorite chips.
- Shrimp Crostini's are another great option toast up baguette slices and then top with shrimp filling and bake in the oven until the cheese is melted.
Storage
If you have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. To reheat, place them in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes or until they're warmed through.
Top tip
For a picture-perfect result, brush each phyllo shell with a little olive oil before toasting. This will help create that golden-brown, flaky shell that'll have your guests coming back for seconds.
FAQ
Yes, you can use frozen shrimp, but make sure to thaw them properly before cooking. Pat them dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
To keep the phyllo pastry crisp, ensure that the shells are toasted through before filling.
Yes, you can prepare the cheesy shrimp filling and toast the phyllo shells ahead of time. I would recommend filling them right before baking otherwise the liquid from shrimp and mayonnaise can make your shells soggy.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
CHEESY SHRIMP PHYLLO MELTS
Ingredients
- .75 lb Salad Shrimp reserve some shrimp for garnishing
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 4 cloves garlic
- 4 oz cheddar cheese shredded
- fresh dill
- 30 phyllo shells
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat Your Oven Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In the preheated oven toast up your phyllo cups empty for about 5 minutes.
- Prepare the Shrimp Filling In a mixing bowl, combine the salad shrimp with a splash of lemon juice (reserve some shrimp to garnish) and ⅓ cup of mayonnaise, 4 oz of shredded cheddar cheese, minced 4 garlic cloves, and some fresh dill. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir until all ingredients are well combined.
- Assemble the Melts Fill the toasted phyllo shells with the cheesy shrimp filling about 1 teaspoon in each shell. It should fill the shell and have a little extra on top. Top each shell with a small salad shrimp.
- Bake to Perfection Bake the Shrimp Melts in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crisp and the cheese is melted.
Julia K. says
Very yummy appetizer, perfect for a brunch.
JULIE'S APRON says
Thank you, Julie! I agree its the perfect finger food.