Christmas Seafood Casserole

Recipe View Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium (9x13 inch) baking dish. (5 minutes)

Recipe View In a large skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and celery and sauté until tender and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. (7 minutes)

Recipe View While the vegetables are sautéing, heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until it is steaming but not boiling. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the flour and 1 1/2 teaspoons of melted butter until it forms a smooth paste (a beurre manié). Whisk the beurre manié into the warm milk and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce has thickened, about 3-5 minutes. (8 minutes)

Recipe View Reduce the heat to low and gradually add the sliced Cheddar cheese, stirring until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is smooth. Season with salt and pepper. (5 minutes)

Recipe View In a large bowl, combine the sautéed onions and celery with the cheese sauce. Gently fold in the crabmeat, lobster, shrimp, and scallops until evenly distributed. (5 minutes)

Recipe View Transfer the seafood mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. (2 minutes)

Recipe View Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the seafood is opaque, the sauce is bubbly, and the surface is lightly browned. (30 minutes)

Recipe View Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.