Shellfish Crêpes with Hollandaise Recipe
This shellfish crêpes with hollandaise recipe combines delicate homemade crêpes filled with lobster, crab, and scallops, finished with a rich, buttery hollandaise sauce and melted gruyère. Featured on Fish the Dish, this elegant dish delivers classic French technique with luxurious seafood flavour—perfect for special occasions or refined entertaining.
The Inspiration
This dish draws inspiration from classic French cuisine, where crêpes are often used as a base for both sweet and savoury fillings. In this elevated version, the crêpes act as a delicate wrapper for a rich shellfish mixture, combining lobster, crab, and scallops into a decadent filling.
On Fish the Dish, host Spencer Watts often showcases how foundational culinary techniques—like making crêpes and emulsified sauces—can be combined with premium seafood to create restaurant-quality dishes at home. This recipe embodies that philosophy, blending refined French cooking with bold, ocean-forward flavours.
Ingredients
Crêpe Batter
- 3 Eggs
- ½ cup (120 ml) milk
- ½ cup (120 ml) water
- 1 cup (240 ml) all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) melted butter
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) salt
- Pepper
Seafood
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) shallots, minced
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) celery, chopped
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) chives, chopped
- 8 ounces (227 g) fresh lump crab
- 8 ounces (227 g) bay scallops
- Salt and pepper
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) butter
- 8 ounces (227 g) cooked lobster tail and/or claw meat
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) Gruyere cheese, grated
- Parsley, for garnish
Hollandaise Sauce
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
- ½ cup (120 ml) butter, melted
Methods
- In a blender, combine eggs, milk, water, flour, melted butter, salt, and pepper. Blitz for about 10 seconds. Crepe batter should be thin.
- Cover the mixture in plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for 1 hour.
- Heat a 9-inch non-stick skillet over medium heat. Brush the whole surface of the pan with melted butter. Ladle 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of batter onto the centre of the skillet and swirl the batter to coat the bottom of the pan evenly. Cook for 30 seconds. Loosen the crêpes from the pan and flip in one fluid motion. Cook for another 15-20 seconds and transfer to a plate covered in parchment paper.
- Repeat until you have used all the batter and made 6-8 crêpes. Cover with a towel until ready to serve.
- Add egg yolks and lemon juice to a stainless steel bowl and sit the bowl on top of a pot of barely simmering water. The bowl should be large enough to fit over your pot without touching the water. Vigorously whisk yolks with a balloon whisk. If eggs become too hot, lift bowl off the pot for a few seconds. Whisk until egg mixture thickens up and almost doubles in volume.
- Remove bowl from heat and add salt and pepper. Gradually whisk in the melted butter – and keep whisking until the mixture is thick and doubled in volume again.
- Keep the sauce warm until ready to use. If it needs thinning out before serving add a touch of warm water.
- Preheat broiler.
- Place shallot, celery, chives, and crab meat in a bowl.
- Season scallops and sear in a pan with melted butter. Break up the lobster meat and add to scallops pan to warm through for 1 minute. Add lobster and scallops to the bowl of crab meat. Pour in more melted butter and mix all together.
- Add gruyere to the mixed seafood bowl. Spoon seafood mixture into middle of each crepe. Roll crêpes into logs, and place on a pan lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with hollandaise and top with more grated gruyere cheese. Place under the broiler for 3 minutes or until cheese is melted and golden.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with a light green salad dressed in a citrus vinaigrette to balance the richness of the dish. Steamed asparagus or sautéed greens also complement the flavours beautifully.
For beverage pairings, sparkling wine, Champagne, or a crisp Chardonnay pairs exceptionally well with the buttery hollandaise and delicate seafood. For non-alcoholic options, sparkling water with lemon or a light herbal tea works nicely.
This dish is best served immediately after broiling while the crêpes are warm, the cheese is melted, and the sauce is silky.
Final Thoughts
This shellfish crêpes with hollandaise recipe is a luxurious and elegant dish that showcases classic French technique combined with premium seafood ingredients. The delicate crêpes, rich shellfish filling, and velvety hollandaise create a beautifully balanced and indulgent experience.
It’s a perfect recipe for special occasions or when you want to elevate your cooking with refined flavours and presentation. Sophisticated yet deeply comforting, this dish delivers a memorable dining experience every time.