In the realm of seafood delicacies, few dishes evoke the spirit of summer like steamed blue crabs, a Maryland culinary tradition that has captured hearts and taste buds for generations. Hailing from the Chesapeake Bay, these blue crabs are renowned for their sweet, succulent meat and vibrant blue shells. Join us on a culinary journey as we explore the art of steaming blue crabs, Maryland-style, with three delectable recipes that showcase the essence of this iconic dish.
Our first recipe introduces the classic Steamed Blue Crabs with Old Bay Seasoning, a time-honored method that brings out the crab's natural flavors with a touch of Old Bay's signature blend of spices. For those seeking a more herbaceous touch, the Steamed Blue Crabs with Lemon and Herbs recipe infuses the crabs with a burst of citrus and aromatic herbs, creating a refreshing and flavorful twist. Finally, the adventurous foodie will delight in the Steamed Blue Crabs with Garlic Butter and White Wine, where succulent crab meat is bathed in a luscious sauce of garlic, butter, and white wine, resulting in an indulgent and unforgettable seafood experience.
OLD BAY STEAMED BLUE CRABS
This is where it all began for OLD BAY® Seasoning six decades ago. Maine has its lobsters, California has its wines and Louisiana has its hot sauces. In Maryland, the pride and joy of the Chesapeake Bay coastline is the prized blue crab. Steaming crabs is a social event - a celebration of family and friends, where everybody gets a little messy and has a lot of fun. And OLD BAY is there for every gathering, like a good friend. Blue crabs are it's raison d'être (ask your French philosopher friends), and the two just go together as if they were made for each other (they were, actually).
Provided by Old Bay
Categories Entrees,
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- In a pot with a raised rack (minimum of 2 inches high) add equal quantities of water and vinegar to just below level of rack. Bring to a boil.
- Carefully layer crabs on rack; sprinkle each layer with OLD BAY. Cover and steam 20 to 30 minutes depending on size of crabs or until crabs turn red.
MARYLAND STEAMED CRABS RECIPE - (4.7/5)
Provided by Lsweetnell
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- For Steaming The Crabs: You will need a large pot with a raised rack to keep the crabs out of the water mixture. I have been known to use wadded-up foil. Add the water and/or Beer and vinegar to the pot and bring to a boil. The depth of the water mixture could vary due to pot size. You may not be able to cook all the crabs at once. While boiling watch the level of water in your pot making sure not to boil dry. If you run low remember its equal parts beer and/or water to vinegar. Carefully layer the crabs in the pot grab from behind. Between each layer of crabs season with the spice mixture you have made. Steam blue crabs for 20 minutes until done If crabs are extremely large maybe longer, but no longer than 30 minutes. Allow to rest until the crabs have cooled some and are safe to crack and enjoy. Ensure you have someone around that knows how to clean a crab and can show you how to do that.
STEAMED MARYLAND BLUE CRABS FOR 14
Steps:
- Cover tables, preferably outdoors, with brown packaging paper and tape. For each pot of crabs, add water, beer, and approximately 1/4 packet of crab boil seasoning to pot. Bring to boil. With gloves on, remove crabs from bushel, you may have to pull them apart (carefully!) and put/shake a few at a time into pot. It is best to grab them from behind to avoid the claws, as their legs only move forward. Add enough crabs to fill bottom of pot. Sprinkle more crab boil seasoning over first layer of crabs. Continue, alternating crabs and seasoning until pot is nearly full, leaving about an inch at the top. Cover tightly. Steam over high heat for 14 to 16 minutes, or until shells are bright orange. Halfway through cooking time, shake pot to redistribute seasoning. When done, remove pot from heat. Drain over sink the accumulated liquid from pot. Spread crabs onto large tray; place in center of table where guests help themselves. Serve with small dishes of melted butter and, for those who like added seasoning, place small bowls of extra crab boil seasoning on table.
- Eating guidelines: It is easier to learn how to eat crabs from an expert, but if none is available, here are step-by-step instructions. First, pull off claws and legs. Break legs and check for meat. Sucking is okay. Some like to save the claws for last because they are rather dessert-like, although the "lump" meat from the body is prized most. Next, turn the crab on its back. You will see an elongated part of the shell that looks like a "T." Some call it the key, even though it doesn't look very much like one. The female key is plumper; the male's is more elongated. Pull the key back, breaking it off, which makes the rest of the shell easy to remove. Now the body of the crab is shell-less. You will now see the long rib-like strips on either side of the cavity. These are the crab's gills. Edible, but not very good. Pull them off, and you will more easily be able to break the crab in half. When you do this, you will most likely now see a good amount of white, fleshy "lump" crab meat. Continue opening the small sections to expose more meat. You will not need mallets or hammers for this. When you are ready for the claws, break them in half at the joint. Take a wooden mallet and whack the large half hard. Don't be shy.
- Other helpful hints: Don't wear your Sunday best. If it tastes good, you can eat it. Plates and cutlery are unnecessary; the brown paper is a communal plate. Bibs are for babies. When finished, steamed hand towels are very welcome. The easiest way to dispose of the mess is to roll up the brown paper with all the shells, etc. on it -- taking care to "rescue" knives, bowls, etc. first -- and discard in outdoor trash can. The garbage may attract animals, so be sure to keep the lid on tight. Note: Leftover crabs are excellent cold, served with a mayonnaise based dipping sauce. Cooked crabs will keep in refrigerator for a few days.
STEAMED MARYLAND BLUE CRABS FOR 14
Steps:
- Cover tables, preferably outdoors, with brown packaging paper and tape. For each pot of crabs, add water, beer, and approximately 1/4 packet of crab boil seasoning to pot. Bring to boil. With gloves on, remove crabs from bushel, you may have to pull them apart (carefully!) and put/shake a few at a time into pot. It is best to grab them from behind to avoid the claws, as their legs only move forward. Add enough crabs to fill bottom of pot. Sprinkle more crab boil seasoning over first layer of crabs. Continue, alternating crabs and seasoning until pot is nearly full, leaving about an inch at the top. Cover tightly. Steam over high heat for 14 to 16 minutes, or until shells are bright orange. Halfway through cooking time, shake pot to redistribute seasoning. When done, remove pot from heat. Drain over sink the accumulated liquid from pot. Spread crabs onto large tray; place in center of table where guests help themselves. Serve with small dishes of melted butter and, for those who like added seasoning, place small bowls of extra crab boil seasoning on table.
- Eating guidelines: It is easier to learn how to eat crabs from an expert, but if none is available, here are step-by-step instructions. First, pull off claws and legs. Break legs and check for meat. Sucking is okay. Some like to save the claws for last because they are rather dessert-like, although the "lump" meat from the body is prized most. Next, turn the crab on its back. You will see an elongated part of the shell that looks like a "T." Some call it the key, even though it doesn't look very much like one. The female key is plumper; the male's is more elongated. Pull the key back, breaking it off, which makes the rest of the shell easy to remove. Now the body of the crab is shell-less. You will now see the long rib-like strips on either side of the cavity. These are the crab's gills. Edible, but not very good. Pull them off, and you will more easily be able to break the crab in half. When you do this, you will most likely now see a good amount of white, fleshy "lump" crab meat. Continue opening the small sections to expose more meat. You will not need mallets or hammers for this. When you are ready for the claws, break them in half at the joint. Take a wooden mallet and whack the large half hard. Don't be shy.
BLUE CRABS STEAMED MARYLAND STYLE
Make and share this Blue Crabs Steamed Maryland Style recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Chef Dude
Categories Crab
Time 2h30m
Yield 80-100 Crabs, 8-10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Also need 1 Large Pot with a raised rack at least 2-4 inches.
- Over high heat in a large crab pot with a raised rack bring equal ammounts of Cider Vinegar and water or beer to a boil.
- (The total ammount should be just below the raised rack about 2-3 cups of each Vinegar and water or Beer.) Mix equal ammounts of"Old Bay" seasoning and"Kosher" Salt (About 2 cups of each to start) Add 4-6 LIVE JUMBO male crabs for each layer and add the combined "seasoning" on top of the crabs.
- Continue with Crabs and a layer of seasoning until at least 12- 14 crabs are in the pot, cover and steam 25- 30 minutes.
- with the lid on!
- (Chop off anyones hand that tries to lift the lid too soon!) When done use tongs to lift out steamed crabs to a table covered with newspapers or brown paper.
- Repeat until all Crabs are Steamed, changing the vinegar and water and adding new "seasoning" to each new batch.
- Serve at once with extra "seasoning" and "crab mallets" to break open claws.
- Or store in brown paper bags in the fridge until needed 4-5 days (NO LONGER!!!).
STEAMED BLUE CRABS
For steamed crabs, that beach-town summer standby, the Chesapeake catechism teaches plenty: buy more crabs than you think you need, use more spice, a larger pot. Get wooden mallets. Prepare to eat for a while. If you don't have a crab pot, and most of us don't, fiddle with the largest stockpot or pasta boiler you have. Set a few clean, empty metal cans upside down on the bottom or invert a colander in there, anything that allows you to have a boiling liquid at the bottom and crabs above it, with none of them swimming around in the soup.
Provided by Sam Sifton
Categories dinner, easy, quick, main course
Time 30m
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Place a steamer pot or any large, heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid on the stove. (In the latter case, improvise a rack on the bottom of the pot that will keep crabs a few inches from the bottom.) Add the beer, vinegar and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Put a layer of crabs on the rack in the pot. Sprinkle with a generous amount of seasoning, then repeat with another layer, and another, until all 12 crabs are in pot (and well seasoned). Cover and steam over medium-high heat until the crabs are bright red, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the crabs with tongs. Serve over newspaper, with mallets and picks.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 145, UnsaturatedFat 1 gram, Carbohydrate 9 grams, Fat 2 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 15 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 240 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams
STEAMED BLUE CRABS
Atlantic Ocean Blue Crabs, steamed over a boil of Old Bay® seasoning and beer. Show your friends you have that certain craboir faire with this one.
Provided by Steve A
Categories Main Dish Recipes Seafood Main Dish Recipes Crab
Time 1h
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Combine 1/2 cup seafood seasoning, salt, beer, and vinegar in a large stockpot over high heat. Bring to a strong simmer.
- Right before cooking, carefully place each crab upside down and stick a knife through the shell, just behind mouth.
- Fit a screen over the beer mixture and layer the crabs on the screen. Be sure that the crabs are above the simmering liquid. Cover.
- Steam crabs until they turn bright orange and all of the blue/green color is gone, 20 to 30 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup seafood seasoning before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 183.3 calories, Carbohydrate 8.3 g, Cholesterol 98.3 mg, Fat 2.5 g, Fiber 3 g, Protein 21.5 g, SaturatedFat 0.3 g, Sodium 3548.2 mg, Sugar 0.3 g
STEAMED BLUE CRABS
Make and share this Steamed Blue Crabs recipe from Food.com.
Provided by mikeymadi
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 40m
Yield 12 crabs, 2-4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Get a dozen or so live and kickin Blue Crabs a large heavy seafood steaming pot (at least 4" larger than the crabs piled inside) turn on stove or outdoor burner to high (preferably an outdoor gas burner made for steaming or frying turkeys) add water and vinegar about 2" high in the bottom of pot,put pot onto burner ,heat until steam comes out of the top,add crabs and seasoning to cover crabs,replace lid on pot,bring back to steaming time about 20-25 minutes after steaming again (you can also put sweet corn in the husk right on top of crabs during last 15 minutes of steaming also throw some seasoning on the corn as well it will be the best sweet corn that you have ever tasted if you like crabs!) after time is up remove crabs from pot onto some newspaper etc. let them cool about ten minutes or so then serve with extra seasoning,crab claw mallets and your favorite beverage(beer seems to be the most popular but I prefer water.Dig In and Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 109.6, Fat 1.4, SaturatedFat 0.3, Cholesterol 98.3, Sodium 369.2, Carbohydrate 0.1, Protein 22.8
Tips:
- Select the Right Crabs: Choose crabs that are heavy for their size and have a firm shell. Avoid crabs with cracked or damaged shells.
- Prepare the Crabs: Rinse the crabs thoroughly under cold water. Remove the rubber bands from the claws and the intestines from the body.
- Season the Crabs: Sprinkle the crabs with Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper. You can also add other seasonings, such as garlic powder, onion powder, or cayenne pepper, to taste. Be sure to coat the crabs evenly.
- Steam the Crabs: Place the crabs in a steamer basket over a pot of boiling water. Cover the pot and steam the crabs for 10-12 minutes, or until they are cooked through. You can check if the crabs are done by inserting a skewer into the body. If the skewer comes out clean, the crabs are done.
- Serve the Crabs: Serve the crabs hot with melted butter, lemon wedges, and your favorite sides, such as corn on the cob, potatoes, or coleslaw.
Conclusion:
Steamed blue crabs are a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. Whether you are having a casual backyard barbecue or a formal dinner party, steamed blue crabs are sure to be a hit. With just a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create a seafood feast that your family and friends will love. So next time you are looking for a delicious and impressive dish to serve, give steamed blue crabs a try.
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