Maryland Crab Imperial with Buttery Golden Bread Crumbs

Ingredients

• 1 pound special or lump crabmeat, picked over for shells
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons fresh juice from 1 lemon, plus grated zest of half a lemon
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
• 1 small shallot, finely minced
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• Baguette toasts, saltines, or other crackers, for serving

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a medium bowl, stir together crabmeat, mayonnaise, Dijon, lemon juice and zest, parsley, Old Bay, and shallot until evenly incorporated. Season with salt and pepper.
2. In a small bowl, stir bread crumbs with melted butter until evenly coated. Season with salt.
3. Pack crab mixture in a 1-quart baking or gratin dish, then layer buttered bread crumbs evenly on top. Set on top of a rimmed baking sheet and bake until crab mixture is heated through and bread crumbs are golden, about 20 minutes. Serve with toasts or crackers, if desired.