Gobble Up

Some chefs like to be set free with ingredients and imagination. Crab dip recipes offer an ideal chance to experiment with flavors and textures. Even young chefs can get involved to a greater or lesser extent, especially with cold recipes.

Your first consideration is what style of crab to use. You have three choices. Canned crab allows you to purchase ahead of time without worrying that the meat will go off in your refrigerator. Imitation crab is readily available and inexpensive. Real crab provides the most authentic flavor, though can be quite expensive. If you want to make a really special dip this might be your best choice, but only purchase your crab from a location that can sell it to you fresh. You must also remember to cook your crab meat, especially if your recipe will remain cold.

You then need to find a recipe for cold or hot dip. Cold dips often use canned crab meat, making them idea for children. Choose or adapt according to what your child can do in the kitchen.

Hot dips will likely require older hands to get involved, so fresh crab may work well here. Fresh crab needs to be cooked anyway. Pre-cooked or imitation crab might send out overwhelming aromas or canned crab may become overdone when cooked, while the mild flavor of fresh crab will blend in nicely with other ingredients producing inviting smells.

For a rich and creamy crab dip, try a recipe which incorporates cream cheese and cheddar cheese. This will give you a thick consistency. Lighter dips for the heath-conscious eater may use sour cream or plain yogurt. Find a compromise between the two with quark, a dairy product something between thick yogurt and cream cheese.

Some of these ingredients come pre-flavored with herbs, fruit and vegetables, or even salmon. Experienced cooks may find a way to blend the extra seafood with their crab without producing overly fishy results. Additional seasonings make a recipe more exciting, such as dill, lemon or lime. Go for a zesty finish with tabasco sauce, horseradish or chillies.

Cooked dips send their aroma throughout a house, so if you want to get your kids to the table consider one of these. This also provides the chance to create other visual effects and textures, such as melted and slightly crispy cheese on top or a gratin finish. Dips which use eggs and flour come out with a bread-like quality, providing a meal in themselves.

Serve your appetizer in one of numerous ways. These dips provide a tasty accompaniment to plain potato chips. They work well with certain breads and raw vegetables. Serve your dip inside of a scooped out loaf, in a casserole dish, or even baked into mushroom caps or tart shells. When you want to add elegant flare, pair your crab dip with a crisp white wine such as Riesling, un-oaked Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer or Riesling.

Want to offer your guests a treat at your next get together? You may want to know more about crab dip recipes. There are a number of crab recipes available.