Description
Crispy Maryland Crab Balls bring coastal charm to your plate, blending fresh seafood with zesty seasonings. Delicate crab meat mingles with herbs and breadcrumbs, creating irresistible appetizers you’ll crave at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb (450 g) lump crab meat, picked over for shells
- ½ cup (60 g) breadcrumbs (panko or regular)
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
Binding and Flavor Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (60 g) mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Juice of ½ lemon
Coating and Seasoning Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (30 g) additional breadcrumbs, for rolling (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Frying Ingredient:
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
- Mix lump crab meat with breadcrumbs, herbs, and seasonings in a spacious mixing vessel, ensuring delicate handling to preserve the crab’s texture.
- Incorporate mayonnaise, beaten egg, Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, fresh parsley, and a splash of zesty lemon juice into the seafood mixture.
- Delicately fold the ingredients together, using a light touch to maintain the crab meat’s integrity and prevent excessive breaking or shredding.
- Assess the mixture’s consistency, ensuring it holds together well enough to form cohesive spherical shapes without becoming too dense or compact.
- Using clean hands or a small scoop, shape the mixture into uniform balls approximately 1-inch in diameter, compressing gently to help them retain their shape.
- Place the formed crab balls on a clean plate or baking sheet, covering and refrigerating for 15-20 minutes to help them firm up and prevent potential crumbling during cooking.
- Select your preferred cooking method: pan-frying for a crispy exterior, baking for a lighter approach, or deep-frying for maximum golden crunchiness.
- Cook the crab balls until they achieve a beautiful golden-brown color and are heated thoroughly, typically 3-5 minutes depending on the cooking technique.
- Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil and serve immediately with a complementary dipping sauce like remoulade or tartar sauce.
Notes
- Choose fresh, high-quality crab meat for the best flavor and texture in your crab balls.
- Mix ingredients gently to maintain the delicate crab meat’s integrity and prevent a tough, dense texture.
- For a gluten-free option, swap regular breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free panko crumbs to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Chill the mixture for 30 minutes before forming balls to help them hold together better during cooking and prevent falling apart.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg