Description
Succulent Maryland crab balls showcase the Chesapeake Bay’s finest seafood delicacy with crisp breadcrumb coating and delicate seasoning. Served hot as an appetizer, you’ll savor the rich, buttery flavor of fresh blue crab meat in each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) lump crab meat, picked over for shells
- ½ cup (60 g) breadcrumbs (panko or regular)
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- ¼ cup (60 g) mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- 2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley
- ½ lemon, juiced
- ¼ cup (30 g) additional breadcrumbs, for rolling (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
- Preparation: Gently combine lump crab meat with breadcrumbs, herbs, and seasonings in a large mixing bowl, carefully preserving the delicate meat’s texture.
- Seasoning Fusion: Blend mayonnaise, beaten egg, Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, fresh parsley, and lemon juice into the seafood mixture, ensuring even distribution of flavors.
- Forming: Delicately shape the mixture into uniform 1-inch spheres, applying gentle pressure to maintain structural integrity while preventing excessive compacting.
- Chilling: Refrigerate the formed crab balls for 15-20 minutes to solidify their shape and enhance cohesion, which helps prevent potential disintegration during cooking.
- Cooking: Choose your preferred method – pan-fry for a crisp exterior, bake for a lighter option, or deep-fry for maximum golden crunchiness. Cook until the exterior turns a rich golden-brown and the interior reaches optimal temperature, typically 3-5 minutes depending on the chosen technique.
- Serving: Transfer the cooked crab balls to paper towels to absorb excess oil, then plate immediately alongside a complementary dipping sauce such as remoulade or classic tartar sauce.
Notes
- Preserve Crab Texture: Handle crab meat gently to maintain its delicate flakes and prevent breaking during mixing and shaping.
- Balance Moisture: Add breadcrumbs gradually to control mixture consistency, ensuring balls hold together without becoming dry or overly dense.
- Chill Before Cooking: Refrigerate formed crab balls for 15-20 minutes to help them firm up, reducing the risk of falling apart during cooking.
- Customize Cooking Method: Choose pan-frying, baking, or deep-frying based on dietary preferences and desired crispiness level.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg