A devilled crab recipe is one that uses crab meat, usually from blue crabs, but there’s nothing wrong with using other varieties too.
What Is A Deviled Crab Recipe?
Deviled crab recipes are not only tasty, they are also very healthy because the ingredients used in these dishes are all natural and free from preservatives like MSG (monosodium glutamate).
Some people prefer their deviled crab recipes to have no mayonnaise while others love it when they include mayo.
But regardless of what type of mayonnaise you use, adding some spices will really give your deviled crab recipe its own unique flavor.
The most common way to prepare this recipe is by first soaking the crab legs in a mixture of salt water and lemon juice.
Once soaked, the crab legs are then placed into a food processor along with any seasonings you want to add such as paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and celery seed.
This mixture is then blended together until smooth.
Once the crab mixture has been prepared, it is then placed onto a tray lined with aluminum foil.
The tray is then wrapped up tightly so that steam does not escape during cooking time.
After wrapping the tray, the mixture is left to marinate overnight in the refrigerator before being cooked on the grill.
If you don’t have access to a grill, you can cook them in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes per pound of crab.
You should check on them every 10 minutes to see if they need more cooking time.
When done, remove the crab legs from the heat, let cool down slightly, and serve immediately after removing the shells.
In addition to seafood, you can also find deviled crab recipes made with lobster, shrimp, chicken, and even pork chops!
How Do You Make A Deviled Crab Recipe?
Deviled crab recipes generally use mayonnaise as its base ingredient.
You will find it used in many different ways throughout the world.
The most popular type of mayo is probably the American version which has white vinegar added to it instead of lemon juice.
Some people consider this version to have less flavour than others so they add more mustard to their deviled crab recipe.
There are also some who say that adding extra mustard makes it taste like ketchup.
The next step for making a devilled crab recipe involves mixing together the crab meat, mayonnaise, mustard, salt, pepper, hot sauce, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, and cheese.
Finally, you place everything in a bowl and mix well until all the pieces are evenly coated with the mixture.
Once these steps are complete, you should shape your devilled crab into balls.
Then, you fry them up in a pan on medium heat in vegetable oil for about 3 minutes per side.
Once cooked through, remove them from the pan and serve immediately.
Depending on what kind of seafood you decide to use, you might want to change the amount of seasonings you use in your devilled crab recipe.
For example, if you use shrimp, you could increase the amount of seasoning by half while keeping the rest of the proportions the same.
If you’re not sure how much to use, try starting off with just enough to coat each piece thoroughly.
If you think it needs more seasoning, then gradually add more spice to give it flavor without overpowering the original taste.
What Are The Ingredients In A Deviled Crab Recipe?
The basic components of a deviled crab recipe include mayonnaise, horseradish sauce, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, celery seeds, paprika, and more.
You will also need some fresh herbs such as parsley or thyme if you want to add them to your deviled crab recipes.
You can buy all these ingredients at any supermarket, so don’t worry about having access to the right ones.
The only tricky thing here is finding good quality mayo because it makes a difference when it comes to how well the whole dish turns out.
When making this type of deviled crab recipe, you should use light-colored mayonnaise since dark colored versions have different taste profiles than their lighter counterparts.
If you choose to use regular mayonnaise instead of light mayonnaise, then skip the next part where I tell you what to do after mixing everything together.
How Long Does It Take To Make A Deviled Crab Recipe?
In terms of cooking time, it takes about 2 hours to prepare this recipe.
You will need to start by making your mayonnaise base, which you should have made ahead of time if possible, then combine the mayo with mustard powder, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic salt, onion powder, celery powder, lemon juice, egg yolk, and Old Bay seasoning.
After combining all these ingredients together, pour them into a bowl and add chopped chives, parsley, and minced green onions.
Next, use a food processor to grind up the crabmeat, but don’t overwork it! Once ground, mix the mixture back into the bowl along with the breadcrumbs, shredded cheese, and seasonings.
Then, place everything on top of a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 centigrade) until golden brown.
The entire process should only take 30 minutes to 1 hour depending upon how busy your kitchen is.
When you’re ready to serve, simply slice the baked crab cakes and serve topped with more shredded cheese, fresh herbs, and lemon wedges.
A great addition would also be some tartar sauce which should be prepared beforehand.
What Is The Best Deviled Crab Recipe?
There are two types of deviled crab recipes you will find online: ones made in a skillet and those made on top of toast.
The latter are more common because they involve less work.
The former require some skill though because you have to get your sauce just right so that the ingredients stick together.
If you do this well then you will end up with a tasty treat, especially if you use fresh crabmeat instead of canned.
You also need to know how to remove the meat from the shell which isn’t hard.
In fact, most of us learned how to do this when we were kids.
However, it is not something that should be done while eating the crab either!
Deviled crab recipes like these tend to fall into one of three categories: sweet (with mayo), savory (without mayo) or spicy (with hot mustard).
You can add any flavorings you want to these depending on what type of person you are serving them to.
Sweet Deviled Crab Recipes
- Spicy Sweet Deviled Crab Recipe
- Creamy Spicy Deviled Crab Recipe
- Sweet Mustard Deviled Crab Recipe
- Savory Deviled Crab Recipe
- Crispy Savory Deviled Crab Recipe
Savory Deviled Crab Recipes
- Cheesy Deviled Crab Recipe
- Garlic Herb Deviled Crab Recipe
- Mushroom-Onion Deviled Crab Recipe
- Tarragon Deviled Crab Recipe
- Lemon Pepper Deviled Crab Recipe
Spicy Deviled Crab Recipes
- Jalapeno Deviled Crab Recipe
- Hot Sauce Deviled Crab Recipe
- Peppered Deviled Crab Recipe
- Pimento Cheese Deviled Crab Recipe
What Is The Difference Between A Deviled Crab Recipe And A Regular Crab Recipe?
A deviled crab recipe is different than a regular crab recipe because it doesn’t use mayonnaise as its base.
Instead, it features mustard, celery salt, pepper, horseradish sauce, lemon juice, and eggs to give it more flavor.
The secret ingredient lies in the panko breadcrumbs which gives the crab legs extra crunchiness.
The basic steps are the same whether you choose to cook them on their own or serve them atop mashed potatoes (or any kind).
You will need to pick out the hard part of the claw first, then remove all the meat from the shell, cut it into bite-sized pieces, rinse it thoroughly, pat dry, dip it into the egg mixture, coat evenly with the bread crumb mix, fry them up until golden brown, and enjoy!
There are several ways to prepare deviled crab recipes depending on how much time you have available.
If cooking is not your thing, then you can simply buy pre-made deviled crab legs at most grocery stores nowadays.
But if you want to get creative, here are some tips on making your own deviled crab legs.
- You will also need to soak the claws overnight so they don’t crack during frying. To do this, place them in a bowl filled with water, cover tightly, and let them sit for about 12 hours.
- After soaking, drain off the excess water, gently squeeze each leg to remove excess liquid, and pat dry with paper towels.
- Next, combine ingredients such as 1/4 cup flour, 2 tablespoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8teaspoon cayenne pepper, and 1 tablespoon milk in a shallow mixing bowl. Mix well until combined and smooth.
- In another shallow bowl, whisk together egg whites, 1 tablespoon milk, and 1 teaspoon cornstarch. Set aside.
- Dip each piece of crabmeat into the egg white mixture, coating both sides completely. Then dredge in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess before placing onto waxed paper. Repeat step 4 for all remaining pieces, ensuring to keep the order in which you coated them the same way.
- Heat oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Fry the legs, turning occasionally, until golden brown. Remove them from the pan and set aside.
- To finish, add butter to the hot oil and melt it. Once melted, add the horseradish sauce, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Add the mustard and stir again until incorporated. Finally, pour in the lemon juice and season with additional salt and black pepper to taste. Serve immediately with tooth picks.
How Many Calories Are In A Deviled Crab Recipe?
The calorie count on any particular deviled crab recipe will vary depending on how much seafood you use, so it’s best to look at the ingredients list before preparing this dish.
- Calories per serving (1/4 cup): 437
- Total number of servings: 2
- Protein content: 18% of total caloric intake
- Fat content: 20% of total caloric intake
- Carbohydrate content: 50% of total caloric intake
- Fiber content: 3 grams
It’s important to note that when you buy your crabmeat, it should come in a resealable bag which means that it has been frozen already.
Frozen foods have less water than fresh ones and therefore contain fewer calories.
Is A Deviled Crab Recipe Healthy?
The short answer here is yes. Yes it is good for you if you eat it regularly.
The long answer is this: a deviled crab recipe isn’t going to replace your daily dose of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains.
However, eating these foods alongside the deviled crab recipe will help you get closer to achieving a balanced diet.
The reason why a devilled crab recipe is healthier than some of its counterparts is because it contains no added sugar.
A lot of people think all crab recipes require sugar, but they don’t.
For example, most seafood dishes do not have any added sugar.
They may contain honey or agave nectar (for sweetness) when making them, but those aren’t considered part of their ingredients list.
Other kinds of crab dishes, such as fried crab cakes, often use artificial sweeteners like Splenda instead of real sugar.
Some types of crab also include cream cheese – which has plenty of fat and carbs, and very little nutritional value — so that’s something else to watch out for.
Deviled Crab Recipe Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh crabmeat
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/8 cup plain Greek yogurt
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Parsley, for garnish
Deviled Crab Recipe Instructions
Start by washing and picking over the crabmeat.
Make sure to remove bits of shell and cartilage, and discard anything that looks abnormal.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat until completely melted.
Add the crabmeat, stirring gently to coat evenly with the butter mixture.
Stir in the yogurt, lemon juice, salt and pepper, then transfer everything to a bowl to cool slightly.
Once cooled, stir in the parsley, cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
What Is The History Of The Deviled Crab Recipe?
The word “devil” comes from the Old French “diabolus,” which means “demon.” The name was given because this spicy dish has a strong flavor, similar to something you might find in hell.
Deviled crab recipes are often found on menus at restaurants serving seafood dishes, such as steamed clams, oysters, mussels, and shrimp.
There are many different variations of deviled crab recipes.
Some use only mayonnaise, while others add mustard and hot sauce.
Others include cayenne pepper, lemon juice, garlic, paprika, and even horseradish.
These ingredients give the deviled crab its unique taste and kick, making it a popular menu item.
How Can I Make My Deviled Crab Recipe Better?
There are many different ways you could improve on this particular recipe, so let’s take a look at some of them.
- For starters, it would probably benefit your deviled crab recipe if you used fresh rather than canned crab meat. This will give you a more authentic taste because the texture won’t be quite as smooth and creamy, which means less mayonnaise will be needed in order for the flavor to still come through.
- You should also try to use real mayo instead of regular yellow mustard flavored variety when making your deviled crab recipe. You might want to add a little bit of Dijon sauce into the mix (or just plain old white vinegar) to keep the overall flavor balanced.
- If you have access to fresh crawfish tails, then they’d work out really well in this recipe. Just remove the shells and boil them briefly before adding them back into the pan after removing them from the heat.
- It wouldn’t hurt to consider serving these deviled crab claws with cocktail onions. They’re very tasty and go great with seafood dishes like this.
- Don’t forget about the lemon! The juice adds a nice citrusy flair to any type of crab dish – including deviled crab.
Deviled Crab Recipe Tips
If you’ve never made deviled crab before, don’t worry.
There aren’t any hard-and-fast rules when it comes to this recipe.
What works best for one person might not do wonders for another, so feel free to experiment until you get something that you enjoy eating.
As far as preparation goes, all you need to do is place all of your ingredients together and cook them over low heat.
Then, once everything has been cooked, simply combine it all together and serve up a hot bowl of deviled crab goodness.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons minced onion
- 2 tablespoons minced green pepper
- 2 teaspoons minced parsley
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 dash Tabasco sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
- Dash of black pepper or to taste
- 1 pound fresh or pasteurized crabmeat
- 3 to 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 3 to 4 sprigs fresh parsley
- 1 lemon cut into wedges
Instructions
- assemble the components.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, cayenne, onions, green peppers, parsley, dry mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to the mayonnaise in a bowl. For the flavors to meld, cover the bowl and set it alone for about 15 minutes.
- Gently include the crab.
- In a small skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter. Stir in the breadcrumbs. Add a bit extra melted butter if it appears too dry and continue to cook over low heat until barely golden. Into a basin, scrape, and allow to cool.
- the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. On a baking sheet, arrange the ramekins or natural or ceramic crab shells.
- To make each dish appear generous, divide the crab mixture among the containers, putting a small mound of it in the center.
- Over each plate, distribute the buttery breadcrumbs uniformly.
- Bake the baking sheet on the top rack of the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until it is bubbling and gently browned.
- Serve hot with lemon wedges and parsley sprigs.
- Enjoy.
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My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.