Warm Piquillo and Crab Dip

    * fast FAST
    * make ahead MAKE-AHEAD
    * staff favorite STAFF FAVORITE

TOTAL TIME: 25 MIN
SERVES: 4
Chef Way For this classic tapa, Garces stuffs his delicious crab salad into individual piquillo peppers and roasts them until hot.
Easy Way Instead of laboriously stuffing piquillo peppers, spread the crab mixture in a baking dish, top it with slices of the peppers, then cook until warm and melty.
ingredients

    * 1 pound lump crab, picked over
    * 1/4 cup mayonnaise
    * 1/4 cup crème fraîche
    * 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
    * 2 tablespoons snipped chives
    * 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
    * 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
    * 1/4 pound Manchego cheese, shredded (1 cup)
    * One 9-ounce jar piquillo peppers, drained and cut into strips 


directions

   1. Preheat the broiler. In a bowl, combine the crab, mayonnaise, crème fraîche, parsley, chives, mustard, lemon juice and 3/4 cup of the Manchego. Spread in an 8-by-11-inch baking dish. Top with the piquillos and sprinkle with the remaining Manchego. Broil for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the dip is heated through. Serve hot.

SERVE WITH Crusty bread or crostini.