In the heart of Maryland's culinary scene lies a delicacy that has captivated seafood enthusiasts for generations: Chesapeake Bay crabs. These blue crabs, known for their sweet and succulent meat, are the stars of a diverse range of recipes that celebrate their unique flavor. From the classic steamed crabs, a summertime staple, to the savory crab cakes, a versatile dish perfect for any occasion, to the rich and creamy crab soup, a heartwarming meal that exudes comfort, these recipes showcase the versatility of this iconic ingredient. Whether you prefer the simplicity of steamed crabs, the hearty satisfaction of crab cakes, or the velvety smoothness of crab soup, this collection caters to every palate. Embark on a culinary journey that pays homage to the bounty of the Chesapeake Bay, where each recipe captures the essence of Maryland's treasured seafood delicacy.
Let's cook with our recipes!
CHESAPEAKE BAY CRAB CAKES
Of the many species of crab inhabiting the East Coast waters, blue crab is the most plentiful, ranking behind lobster and shrimp in commercial value. The crab most often found on the menu at beach picnics, it is available from February, when the water turns warm around Florida, until cold weather returns. The stone crab, by contrast, is rare and expensive. Concentrated around Key West and Miami, it ranges up to the Carolinas and west to Texas. Only the claw meat is eaten: trappers break off one claw, and the crab regenerates a new one. The secret to making sure you get the most value for your lump crabmeat in this recipe is to make sure you don't overmix it with the other ingredients. Tossing until just combined creates a better texture and less monotonous tasting crab cake. These crab cakes are the perfect party-ready appetizer, but they can also be served as a main dish.
Provided by Southern Living Editors
Time 33m
Yield 18 mini crab cakes
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Pick crabmeat, removing any bits of shell.
- Whisk egg in a medium bowl. Whisk in parsley flakes, next 3 ingredients, 3 Tbsp. mayonnaise, and 3/4 tsp. Old Bay seasoning. Gently stir in crabmeat and cracker crumbs. Shape crab mixture into 18 (1 1/2-inch) patties. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet.
- Stir together remaining 5 Tbsp. mayonnaise and 1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning; spread on crab cakes, and sprinkle with paprika.
- Bake at 350°F for 12 minutes or until golden. (Do not overbake.) Serve with lemon wedges. Garnish, if desired.
CHESAPEAKE BAY CRAB DIP - BAKED, CHEESY AND DELICIOUS! - HUNGRY SIX
This Chesapeake Bay Crab dip is cheesy, creamy, and filled with fresh crab meat and just the right amount of Old Bay Seasoning. Try this recipe out today!
Categories Appetizer
Time 40m
Yield 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350° and grease a small casserole dish.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayo, sour cream, cheddar, horseradish, Old Bay, lemon juice and Worcestershire. Mix together until well combined. Fold in the crab meat and mix gently. Spread this mixture in the casserole dish and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before topping with the green onion and serving with crackers.
Nutrition Facts : @context https, ServingSize 1/12, Calories 221 calories, Protein 11 grams protein, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Carbohydrate 2 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 1 grams sugar, Sodium 512 milligrams sodium, Fat 19 grams fat, SaturatedFat 8 grams saturated fat, Cholesterol 55 milligrams cholesterol
CHESAPEAKE BAY CRABS
This recipe for hard-shell blue crabs comes from Rob Cernak, owner of Obrycki's Crab House in Baltimore. It's best to keep the crabs on ice. If you are unable to do so, make certain to wet them before you season them. The water helps the seasoning adhere to the crabs' shells.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Seafood Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Place about 6 cups of water, the vinegar, and the beer in an 8-gallon stockpot fitted with a raised rack. If you don't have a raised rack, use bricks wrapped in clean cloth to raise your rack about 6 inches off the bottom. It is important that the crabs not get wet while they're being steamed.
- Make a layer of crabs on the rack, and cover them with 1/8 to 3/4 inch of crab seasoning. Bring the liquid to a boil. Once the steam starts to rise through the crabs, cover pot with lid, and steam for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the crabs are bright red. Remove the crabs with tongs or rubber gloves. (Using rubber gloves makes handling easier, preventing you from burning your hands -- and inadvertently dropping any crabs.)
CHESAPEAKE BAY BLUE CRAB HOT POT
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time P3DT50m
Yield 4 (8-ounce) servings
Number Of Ingredients 30
Steps:
- In a heavy-gauged pot on medium to high heat add the grapeseed oil. When a light haze rises from the pan, add all of the crab. The blue crabs contain water so you must cook them until this liquid has evaporated. Then add the butter. Allow the milk solids to fall and when the butter stops foaming add the vegetables and cook until translucent. Add the coriander seed and brown lightly. Add the tomato paste and chopped tomato and cook, stirring frequently, for 4 minutes. Deglaze with the white wine, scraping up any bits sticking to the pan. Add the water and chicken stock. Bring up to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Add the bay leaf and thyme cook an additional 10 minutes. Press the whole mixture into a strainer. The broth should have small pieces of the vegetables from the cooking of the crab. Check and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Divide evenly and garnish each with some of the crab, pickled ramps, sauteed shiitakes and creme fraiche.
- Combine the sugar, vinegar, and water and bring to a boil. Add the mustard, coriander, fennel seeds, peppercorns, and bay leaf. Blanch and shock ramps, strain, and pour the warm pickling liquid over the ramps. Let cool and store for 3 days before using.
CHESAPEAKE BAY CLASSIC CRAB CAKES
Steps:
- Put the egg yolk, seafood seasoning, mustard, lemon zest and juice, and vinegar in the bowl of a food processor or a blender and process until smooth. Gradually pour in the oil with the machine running until the mixture emulsifies and forms a mayonnaise. Season with the salt and pepper. (Note: this quantity of mayonnaise will not emulsify in the bowl of the largest size food processor. Use a medium size food processor, a mini processor, or a blender.)
- Transfer the mayonnaise to a bowl and, using a rubber spatula, fold in the scallions and the crabmeat until well combined. Combine the bread crumbs and the parsley in a shallow container. Form the crab mixture into 8 patties about 3-inches wide and 3/4-inch thick and drop them into the bread crumb-parsley mixture. Dredge the crab cakes on both sides. If you have time, leave the crab cakes in the container of bread crumbs, cover with plastic wrap, and chill for 1 hour or more.
- When you are ready to fry the crab cakes, put 2 large nonstick skillets over medium heat. Add about 2 tablespoons butter to each pan. When the butter is melted, add 4 crab cakes to each pan, patting off excess crumbs first. Slowly fry the crab cakes over medium heat until they are golden brown on both sides and hot through, turning once with a spatula, about 4 minutes per side. If the crab cakes are browning too quickly, reduce the heat. The internal temperature of a cooked crab cake should be 155 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.
- Transfer the crab cakes to plates, 2 per person, and serve with your choice of sauce and lemon wedges.
- 8 ounces tomatillos, husked and cut into quarters
- 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons green hot sauce (recommended: Tabasco)
- 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds, toasted
- 1 teaspoon peeled and grated fresh horseradish
- Put the tomatillos in the bowl of a food processor and process until coarsely pureed. Remove the tomatillo puree to a sieve, drain off the liquid and discard. Put the drained puree in a bowl and stir in the vinegar, sugar, hot sauce, garlic, mustard seeds, and horseradish.
CHESAPEAKE BAY CRAB SOUP
A quick soup from Bon Appetit 30-Minute Main Courses. It reminds me of a Manhattan Clam Chowder and you can substitute clams for the crab if you like.
Provided by lazyme
Categories Crab
Time 30m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat.
- Add onion and carrot and cook until vegetables begin to soften, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
- Add tomatoes with their liquid; break up tomatoes.
- Add chicken broth, water, clam juice, wine, potato, Worcestershire sauce and Old Bay Seasoning.
- Bring to boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 12 minutes.
- Add peas to soup and simmer 2 minutes.
- Add crabmeat, parsley and hot pepper sauce.
- Simmer until crabmeat is heated through, about 1 minute.
- Season with salt and pepper and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 365.4, Fat 9.1, SaturatedFat 1.4, Cholesterol 64.6, Sodium 1019.8, Carbohydrate 39.1, Fiber 6, Sugar 10.4, Protein 27
CHESAPEAKE CRAB DIP
Many of the Maryland Green School students work to improve the health of our local treasure, the Chesapeake Bay. Crab stars in this creamy dip that highlights the importance of their efforts. -Carol Brzezinski, Marriottsville, Maryland
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Appetizers
Time 40m
Yield 2-1/4 cups.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325°; in a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, mustard, seafood seasoning and garlic salt. Fold in crab. Transfer to a greased 9-in. pie plate. Sprinkle with cheese and paprika., Bake until cheese is melted and bubbly, 20-25 minutes. Serve warm with crackers. Refrigerate leftovers.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 166 calories, Fat 12g fat (8g saturated fat), Cholesterol 77mg cholesterol, Sodium 307mg sodium, Carbohydrate 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 12g protein.
CHESAPEAKE BAY CRAB SCAMPI
Quick, easy and delicious. To do this recipe justice, please use fresh crabmeat, not canned or imitation crab.
Provided by Irish Rose
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 15m
Yield 2-3 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat oil and butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until garlic is lightly golden.
- Add red pepper,lemon juice and white wine (or chicken broth). Bring to a soft boil and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Gently stir in crabmeat and parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve over pasta. Save about 1/2 to 1 cup of pasta water to add to dish if there is not enough liquid to suit you or you could also add additional amount of wine or chicken broth.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1153.3, Fat 54.6, SaturatedFat 19, Cholesterol 233.2, Sodium 1029, Carbohydrate 89.9, Fiber 3.8, Sugar 2.6, Protein 65.9
CRAB CAKES WITH CHESAPEAKE BAY MAYO
I placed my personal stamp on my Aunt Ellie's crab cake recipe by changing up some of her ingredients. They're served with a tart and tangy creamy sauce. You can serve them on an appetizer spread or as a terrific first-course at a formal dinner.-Michelle Critchell, Moon, Virginia
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Appetizers
Time 30m
Yield 16 appetizers.
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Cover and chill until serving. For crab cakes, in a large bowl, combine the egg, cheese, bread crumbs, mayonnaise, onion, parsley, mustard, seafood seasoning and pepper. Fold in crab. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes., With floured hands, shape mixture by 2 tablespoonfuls into 1/2-in.-thick patties. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook crab cakes in oil in batches for 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Serve with sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 174 calories, Fat 14g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 51mg cholesterol, Sodium 287mg sodium, Carbohydrate 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 8g protein.
SIMPLE EASY CHESAPEAKE BAY ROSY CRAB SOUP FROM THE FARM
Being from Maryland, I know very well homemade crab soup. This is not that recipe. This is a very quick crab and tomato soup recipe that is used to finish extra crab meat off. Being a base recipe, please use this to be creative with, adding or subtracting ingredients and adjusting seasonings for you and your families enjoyment. I haven't used canned crab in this recipe, but feel free to try it!
Provided by Andi Longmeadow Farm
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 30m
Yield 2 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Melt butter in a soup pot until tender.
- Add minced garlic, cook for 30 seconds on medium heat.
- Stir in remaining ingredients, *except crab* until heated thoroughly. (Add optional ingredients if using).
- Stir carefully, add crab meat, making sure not to break up crab chunks.
- Serve in warmed bowls, (warm bowls under warm water for 1 minute) adding croutons to float on top.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 207.4, Fat 7.2, SaturatedFat 4, Cholesterol 15.3, Sodium 647.7, Carbohydrate 33.8, Fiber 6.7, Sugar 13.6, Protein 7
SPICY CRAB DIP
This style of crab dip, often referred to as Maryland crab dip because of its Chesapeake Bay origins, makes for a festive appetizer. Here, it's served hot out of the oven and is extra creamy thanks to the combination of cream cheese and a little mayonnaise. Though crabs are plentiful this time of year - and you can certainly make this with freshly steamed and picked meat if you'd like - canned lump crabmeat makes this dish simple to assemble. Just be careful to leave the clumps of meat as intact as possible when mixing. A sprinkle of cayenne pepper and a generous douse of hot sauce add heat to this flavorful dish.
Provided by Vallery Lomas
Categories snack, dips and spreads, appetizer
Time 45m
Yield 4 to 6 servings (3 cups)
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8-inch cast iron skillet or 1-quart baking dish with butter.
- In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, shallot, chives, garlic, lemon juice, Cajun seasoning, mustard powder, Worcestershire sauce and 1/3 cup Parmesan. Stir until well combined. Add the crabmeat and gently stir until just combined, trying to not break up the large lumps. Season with pepper to taste.
- Scrape into the prepared skillet and smooth the top. Sprinkle the ground butter crackers and remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan on top.
- Bake until golden brown and bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes, then sprinkle with ground cayenne, hot sauce and chives. Serve with baguette, celery sticks, carrots, additional crackers and more hot sauce.
Tips:
- Choose the right crabs. Look for crabs that are heavy for their size, with a bright orange or red shell. Avoid crabs with broken or missing claws or legs.
- Prepare the crabs properly. Crabs should be cleaned and deveined before cooking. To clean a crab, remove the top shell and the gills. To devein a crab, remove the dark vein that runs along the body.
- Cook the crabs quickly. Crabs should be cooked quickly over high heat. This will help to preserve their delicate flavor and texture.
- Serve the crabs immediately. Crabs are best served immediately after they are cooked. They can be served with melted butter, lemon juice, and Old Bay seasoning.
Conclusion:
Chesapeake Bay crabs are a delicious and versatile seafood. They can be enjoyed steamed, boiled, fried, or baked. No matter how you choose to cook them, be sure to follow these tips for the best results. With a little practice, you'll be able to cook Chesapeake Bay crabs like a pro!
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