In the heart of Maryland, where culinary traditions intertwine with Chesapeake Bay's bounty, lies a dish that embodies the region's rich heritage: Crab Imperial. This delectable creation takes center stage in Baltimore-style cooking, captivating seafood enthusiasts with its exquisite blend of succulent crab meat, velvety imperial sauce, and a touch of Old Bay seasoning. As you embark on a culinary journey through this article, you'll discover not just one, but a collection of carefully curated Crab Imperial recipes that celebrate the diverse culinary expressions of this iconic dish. From the classic rendition featuring jumbo lump crab meat to innovative variations that incorporate unique ingredients and cooking techniques, these recipes will guide you in crafting an unforgettable Crab Imperial experience. Get ready to indulge in a symphony of flavors that will transport you to the vibrant streets of Baltimore, where the essence of this dish continues to inspire culinary artistry.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
CRAB IMPERIAL, BALTIMORE STYLE
Editor's Note: Crab Imperial is a signature dish of the Chesapeake Bay area. Don't be intimidated by the crab or the fancy name. This seafood dish is as easy as it is delicious. If you're craving something warm and full of maritime flavors for dinner, give this recipe a try, and you just might have a new favorite dish. Here is the piece de resistance of Chesapeake Bay blue Crab dishes. Basically, an imperial is a richly spiced crab casserole that is served in individual portions. It is reserved for the most special of family occasions and is the showpiece selection at fine Chesapeake dinnerhouses. Restaurant reputations are often made-and unmade-on the basis of their success with this dish. Want to start a fight? Ask two or more Marylander how to make the best crab imperial. The answer is a matter of fierce family pride and, in most cases, involves a recipe passed through countless, generations. After several such scuffles, I arrived at the version of the fabled preparation. You can bake it in individual dishes or well-cleaned crab shells (see page 66).
Provided by John Shields
Categories Seafood
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Melt the butter in a small skillet and sauté the bell peppers and mushrooms until soft. Set aside.
- Combine the mayonnaise, mustard, Worcestershire, Tabasco, capers, pepper, and Chesapeake seasoning in a small bowl and mix well. Add the sautéed peppers and mushrooms.
- Place the crabmeat in a mixing bowl and pour the mixture over it. Toss gently. Spoon the mixture into 4 individual gratin dishes or well-cleaned crab shells. (Place filled shells on a baking sheet.) Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the topping: Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Remove the casseroles from the oven. Preheat the broiler. Spoon the topping evenly over each casserole. Place under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes, or until nicely browned. (If a broiler is unavailable, brown the top in the oven. It will take a bit longer.) Serve immediately.
MARYLAND STYLE CRAB IMPERIAL
Crab Imperial is a timeless dish made with fresh lump crabmeat. You'll love how easy it is to make this classic dish almost as much as you'll love eating it! This dish can be made with your favorite type of crabmeat and can be used as a stuffing mix for lobster, shrimp, mushrooms and fish.
Provided by Chef Dennis Littley
Categories Entree
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Mix mayonnaise, egg, sugar, old bay, lemon juice and parsley together and blend well, this is your imperial sauce.
- Gently fold crabmeat into, imperial sauce, being careful not to break up crab meat.
- place portions in the baking dish of your choice, using ramekins or small casserole dishes
- Spinkle tops of crab imperial with old bay or paprika.
- Bake in 350-degree oven for 20-25 minutes (top will turn golden brown) or until a thermometer gets an internal reading of 165 degrees
- Allow to cool just a few minutes before serving, it will set and be more flavorful as it cools slightly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 408 kcal, Carbohydrate 2 g, Protein 29 g, Fat 30 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Cholesterol 133 mg, Sodium 340 mg, Sugar 2 g, ServingSize 1 serving
CRAB IMPERIAL (BALTIMORE STYLE)
This serves 3-4 people as an entree or 5-6 people as an appetizer. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me: [email protected]
Provided by Alan Leonetti
Categories Crab
Time 35m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
- Melt butter in a heavy small saucepot over medium heat. Add shallot and stir until very lightly browned, about 5 to 8 minutes.
- Blend in flour, white pepper and mace and stir 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add half-and-half, egg yolks, dry mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and sherry and cook until thick and smooth, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in mayonnaise, lemon juice and salt, and gently fold crabmeat into sauce, being careful not to break up chunks.
- Fill either shells, oven-proof shells, ramekins, or small oven-proof bowls.
- Sprinkle tops with paprika.
- Place onto a cookie sheet and bake until mixture is bubbling, about 12 to 15 minutes, and serve immediately.
CRAB CAKES BALTIMORE-STYLE
This is a classic crab cake inspired by those that were served at Obrycki's Crab House, a rollicking fish restaurant in a former row house on East Pratt Street in Baltimore. They are simply delicious.
Provided by Pierre Franey
Categories breakfast, easy, quick, appetizer, main course
Time 15m
Yield 12 crab cakes
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a large mixing bowl combine the eggs, celery, saltines, mayonnaise, mustard, Old Bay Seasoning, pepper flakes, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, scallions, salt and pepper, and blend well. Add the crab meat, folding it in lightly without breaking it up.
- Divide the mixture into 12 equal portions. Shape them into hamburger-like patties. Dredge them lightly in the bread crumbs.
- Heat approximately 2 tablespoons of the oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Saute the crab cakes 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown, using the remaining 2 tablespoons oil if necessary. Drain on paper towels immediately. Serve the crab cakes with this French Creole-inspired remoulade sauce.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 156, UnsaturatedFat 8 grams, Carbohydrate 8 grams, Fat 9 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 9 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 361 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams
EASTERN SHORE CRAB IMPERIAL
Provided by Jean Anderson
Categories Food Processor Shellfish Bake Mayonnaise Crab Fall
Yield Makes 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly coat 6 large scallop shellswith nonstick cooking spray or, if you prefer, lightly coat a 6-cup au gratin pan or shallow casserole; set aside. Place the crab in a medium-size mixing bowl and set aside also.
- 2. Tear the bread into small chunks, letting them drop into a mini food processor fitted with the metal chopping blade. Using 3 to 4 brisk pulses, reduce to moderately coarse crumbs. Drizzle the melted butter over all and pulse 2 to 3 times to incorporate. The crumbs should now be moderately fine. Tip onto a piece of wax paper and reserve.
- 3. Add the parsley, salt, black pepper, and cayenne to the processor (no need to wash the bowl or blade), and pulse briskly 3 to 5 times until the parsley is coarsely chopped.
- 4. Add the mayonnaise and mustard and churn until smooth, about 5 seconds. Scoop on top of the crab and toss lightly to mix.
- 5. Mound the crab mixture in the scallop shells or spread evenly in the augratin dish, and scatter the buttered crumbs on top.
- 6. Bake uncovered on the middle oven rack until bubbling and touched with brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
- 7. Serve at once, accompanying with a tartly dressed salad of greens. Roasted asparagus spears also make a delicious accompaniment.
BALTIMORE-STYLE CRAB CAKES
Provided by Andrew Zimmern
Categories appetizer
Time 1h15m
Yield 3 to 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Finely crush the saltine crackers in your hands and place in a large bowl. Add the crabmeat, reserving any crab juice in a separate small bowl.
- To the bowl with the crab juice, add the mayonnaise egg, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce; whisk until smooth. Season with black pepper.
- Gently fold the mayonnaise mixture into the crab and saltines. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Scoop the crab mixture into six patties, about 1 1/2-inches thick. Be careful not to handle the mixture too much.
- In a large skillet, heat the oil over moderately high heat until shimmering. Add the crab cakes and cook until deeply golden and heated through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the crab cakes to plates and serve with lemon wedges.
Tips:
- For the best results, use fresh crab meat. If you're using frozen crab meat, be sure to thaw it completely before using.
- Be careful not to overcook the crab meat. Overcooked crab meat will be tough and chewy.
- Use a light hand when mixing the ingredients together. Overmixing will make the crab imperial tough.
- Serve crab imperial immediately, or chill it for later. Crab imperial can be served as an appetizer or a main course.
Conclusion:
Crab imperial is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's perfect for a special occasion or a casual weeknight meal. With its rich flavor and creamy texture, crab imperial is sure to be a hit at your next gathering.
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