Maryland Mini Crab Shells Recipes

CLASSIC MARYLAND CRAB FEAST

Steps:

• Rinse the crabs with cool water and transfer to a large cooler. Top with ice and let sit until the crabs are still, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, to make the seafood seasoning, grind the bay leaves in a spice grinder until finely ground. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the paprika, celery salt and cayenne.
• Pour the beer into a 36-quart stockpot with a basket insert and add the vinegar, 2 tablespoons of the seafood seasoning and 6 cups water. Stir to combine. Add the steamer basket (the liquid should be below the basket), cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
• Put 12 crabs in a single layer, shell-side up, on the steamer rack. Sprinkle liberally with about 1/4 cup seafood seasoning. Repeat the process, layering and sprinkling, with the remaining crabs and seasoning. Cover and steam until the crabs are bright orange all over (there should be no traces of blue or green), 20 to 25 minutes.
• Transfer the crabs to a large platter or rimmed baking sheet--or spread them out directly on a table covered with butcher paper -- and serve with crab mallets for cracking the shells.

MINI CRAB CAKES ON SEASHELLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Soak bread in milk until almost all milk is absorbed. Squeeze out milk; discard. Set bread aside.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low; add two-thirds of crabmeat, the soaked bread, rum, tomato paste, lemon juice, and egg yolk; cook, stirring, 4 minutes. Add cilantro; season with salt, pepper, and hot sauce.
• Continue to cook mixture, stirring, until combined and crabmeat is broken up, about 5 minutes more. Remove from heat; add remaining crabmeat.
• Mound the crab mixture into shells; transfer to rimmed baking sheets. Stir breadcrumbs into butter in a small bowl; sprinkle mixture on tops of crab cakes.
• Bake crab cakes until heated through and brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Serve warm.

MARYLAND CRAB CAKES I

Steps:

• Pick the crab meat to remove any remaining pieces of shell.
• Pick bread into small pieces and place in medium-size bowl with crabmeat. Add egg, mayonnaise, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and Old Bay seasoning ™. Mix ingredients by hand to avoid overworking the crabmeat, you want to keep the lumps of meat as much as possible. Form into patties; this should make 6 good-size cakes.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet, then fry cakes for about 4 minutes each side or until brown crust forms on both sides of the crab cake.

MARYLAND MINI CRAB SHELLS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, egg, lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning and salt. Mix well.
• Add crabmeat, onions, pimento and celery. Mix lightly.
• Spoon 1 rounded teaspoon of filling into each mini phyllo shell.
• Bake in preheated 350º F oven for 20-25 minutes.
• Serve warm.

MARYLAND-STYLE CRAB CAKES WITH HORSEY REMOULADE

Steps:

• Mix crabmeat, mayonnaise, green onion, egg, lemon juice, 1/2 of the jalapeno, panko, seafood seasoning, hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire, ginger, and mustard together for crab cakes in a large bowl. Mix creamy salad dressing, horseradish, and ketchup for remoulade with remaining jalapeno in another bowl. Cover and refrigerate both for 1 hour.
• Remove crab mixture from the refrigerator and portion into 2- to 3-ounce cakes. Roll in panko, coating generously.
• Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Place crab cakes in the hot oil and fry until they are a crispy golden brown, about 3 minutes per side.
• Serve immediately with remoulade.

MARYLAND FRIED SOFT-SHELL CRABS

Steps:

• Wash and clean crabs by cutting off the face just behind the eyes. Lift top of shell and remove the spongy fingers. If the crab is a female (identified by striped markings), remove the back or apron. Rinse and dry.
• Season flour with salt and pepper and mix in baking powder. Dredge crabs in mixture.
• Pour oil into skillet to depth of 1 inch. Heat to 375 degrees. Cook crabs on both sides until brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain and serve with lemon wedges and tartar sauce, if desired.

CRAB APPETIZER (MARYLAND)

Steps:

• Mix together ingredients *except crab meat* to make a thick mixture.
• Carefully fold crab meat into mixture either with a your hands, or a spatula, just until mixed. Do not over mix.
• Over fill each mini phyllo shell with the crab meat, (about 1 tablespoon per shell).
• Sprinkle lightly with paprika, for decoration.
• Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly.