Enchiladas de Jaiba (Crab Enchiladas)
Sweet white crab with spring onion and cheese rolled in corn tortillas and baked in a deep red guajillo sauce.
Made with Classic guacamole and Red enchilada sauce and Corn tortillas from masa harina. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time45 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £3.11 a head
- Oven200°C (180°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat 200°C (180°C fan). Warm your ready made red enchilada sauce (see the base recipe) in a pan over a low heat.
- 2
Mix the crab with the spring onions, jalapeño, lime juice, a pinch of salt and a third of the cheese. Be gentle, so the crab stays in flakes.
- 3
Heat the oil in a small pan. Fry each tortilla for 5 to 8 seconds a side until soft, then dip it in the warm sauce.
- 4
Fill each tortilla with crab mixture, roll up and lay seam side down in a baking dish.
- 5
Pour over the remaining sauce, scatter with the rest of the cheese and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the cheese melts and the edges bubble.
11 min - 6
Serve two per person with a spoonful of your ready made guacamole (see the base recipe) on the side.
Tips
- Fresh white crab meat from the fish counter is best. Check it carefully for small pieces of shell.
- Do not bake for longer. The crab is already cooked and only needs heating through.
- Dressed crab with brown meat is stronger tasting. For this dish use white meat only, or half and half.
- Swap the cheese for more crab and a spoonful of crema if you want a lighter filling.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten fresh. Cool leftovers within 1 hour, keep in the fridge for up to 1 day and reheat until steaming hot all the way through. Do not freeze.
Questions
Can I use tinned crab?
Yes. Drain 2 tins of white crab meat very well and squeeze out the extra liquid so the filling is not wet.
Can I use crab sticks?
They are made with wheat and fish paste, so they are not gluten free and not authentic. Use real crab meat for this dish.
How do I make it dairy free?
Leave out the cheese and add a little more lime juice and chopped coriander. The guacamole and sauce are already dairy free.
Is the sauce hot?
It is mild to medium. The fresh jalapeño in the filling adds the heat, so leave it out for children.
More made with classic guacamole
Torta de Pollo Deshebrado con Guacamole (Shredded Chicken Torta)
EFNFHPParrillada de Verduras Asadas (Mexican Grilled Vegetable Platter)
DFEFNFHamburguesas Mexicanas con Frijoles y Chipotle (Mexican Beef Burgers with Refried Beans)
NFVampiros de Arrachera (Crispy Tortilla Steak and Cheese Tacos)
EFNFDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.