Colossal Crab Recipes

by Michael Vyskocil, photography by Kelly Heck

What would summers in Carroll County be without savoring some crabs? While steamed hard-shell blue crabs come immediately to mind, you shouldn’t overlook the plethora of preparations that let crabs star. So we’ve gathered a bushel of colossal crab recipes for summer entertaining: a brunch crab imperial, cream of crab soup and Maryland-style crab cakes.

Cream of Crab Soup

4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter
1 small onion, finely diced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups shrimp stock (recipe follows)
2 cups heavy cream
½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Coarse salt and freshly ground white pepper, to taste
Dash of Tabasco sauce
1 pound jumbo lump crabmeat, picked over for cartilage and shells
Sherry, for garnish
Paprika, for garnish

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Saute the onion until translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes. Whisk in the flour and cook mixture over medium heat, whisking constantly, for 2 to 3 minutes. Do not let the flour burn.
2. Remove saucepan from the heat and add shrimp stock and heavy cream. Return saucepan to medium heat and stir frequently until the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes.
3. Add the Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, Tabasco sauce and crabmeat. Lower heat and let soup simmer for about 25 minutes.
4. Ladle soup into serving bowls. Garnish with a drizzling of sherry and a sprinkling of paprika. Serves 4.

Shrimp Stock

For the most flavorful stock, save the shells from steamed shrimp. The shrimp shells add a rich base of flavor to this all-purpose seafood stock.

Reserved shells from about 1 pound of steamed shrimp
12 cups cold water
2 onions, sliced
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 large carrots, chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns
1½ teaspoons dried thyme leaves
6 sprigs fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley

1. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan or stockpot and bring mixture to a boil. Simmer stock over medium heat for 30 minutes. Skim off foam from surface of liquid frequently. 
2. Remove stock from heat and strain through a fine sieve or through a double layer of cheesecloth. Cool stock completely. 
3. If not using immediately, refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Makes about 2 quarts.

Maryland-Style Crab Cakes

True Maryland-style crab cakes contain as little filler as possible. Use only the freshest, jumbo lump crabmeat you can find for these crab cakes.

6 saltine crackers, crushed into fine crumbs
1 large egg
1½ teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Dash of Tabasco sauce
1 teaspoon Chesapeake Bay seasoning
1 pound jumbo lump crabmeat, picked over for cartilage and shells
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Tartar sauce, for serving
Lemon wedges, for serving

1. In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the saltine crackers, egg, lemon juice, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, Chesapeake Bay seasoning and crabmeat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide up the crab mixture and shape each crab cake. Transfer crab cakes to a parchment-lined baking sheet and place in the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Line a baking sheet with paper towels and set aside. Remove crab cakes from freezer, and using a spatula, gently place crab cakes in the skillet. Saute crab cakes on one side until lightly golden brown, about 5 minutes; flip crab cakes to opposite side and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove crab cakes to paper towel-lined baking sheet and let drain. Serve crab cakes hot with tartar sauce and lemon wedges. Makes 5 crab cakes.

Brunch Crab Imperial

You can create an hors d’oeuvres version of this dish by substituting the English muffins for toast points or slices of grilled French or Italian bread.

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ cup chopped scallions
6 ounces baby spinach, washed well and drained
⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 large egg yolk
½ teaspoon coarse salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Dash of Tabasco sauce
1 pound jumbo lump crabmeat, picked over for cartilage and shells
5 English muffins, split and lightly toasted
½ cup grated Swiss cheese, for serving
Paprika, for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Saute scallions in the melted butter until soft, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add spinach to skillet and cook over medium heat until most of the liquid from the spinach has evaporated and the spinach has slightly wilted, about 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and set aside.
2. In a small mixing bowl, combine Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, egg yolk, salt, pepper and Tabasco sauce. Set aside.
3. Place the crabmeat in a large mixing bowl. Add cooked spinach mixture to bowl with crabmeat. Gently fold in the mayonnaise mixture until well combined. Spread crab imperial mixture over toasted English muffin halves. Place English muffins on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the crab imperial mixture is warm throughout. Remove baking sheet from oven. Sprinkle the tops of the English muffins with grated Swiss cheese. Return to oven to melt the cheese. Transfer English muffins to individual serving plates or a serving platter; garnish with a sprinkling of paprika. Makes 10 servings.

Places to Eat Steamed Crabs in Carroll County

Restaurants and eateries are listed in alphabetical order. This list may not include every establishment that offers steamed crabs. 

Blue Point Crab House No eat-in; carryout available. 

140 Village Shopping Center, 594 Jermor Lane, Westminster • 410-871-2722 • www.bluepointcrabhouse.com

Captain Dan’s Crabhouse Eat-in and carryout. 

2021 Liberty Road, Eldersburg • 410-549-2511 • www.captaindanscrabhouse.com

Linbeau’s Railway Pub Eat-in and carryout.

35 N. Main St., Union Bridge • 410-775-2341 • Visit on Facebook

Maryland Mallet Restaurant Eat-in and carryout. 

2820 Littlestown Pike, Westminster • 410-346-8000 • www.marylandmallet.com

Myer’s Crab Shack No eat-in; carryout available. 

1199 Old New Windsor Road, New Windsor • 443-487-7662 • Visit on Facebook

Salerno’s Restaurant & Catering Eat-in and carryout. 

1043 Liberty Road, Eldersburg • 410-795-8400 • www.salernos.com

Steamin’ Mad Crabs No eat-in; carryout available. 

812 Main St., Hampstead • 410-374-2722 • www.steaminmadcrabs.com

– list compiled by Sylvia Blair