Pot lucks often offer predictable fare. You may have eaten your share of tortilla chips and salsa or spinach dips. For something your guests or hosts may not expect, consider one of numerous crab dip recipes available on-line or in recipe books. These dips offer a versatile option because they can be rich, light, spicy or even gluten-free.
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.
Now you need to choose hot or cold. For a cold dip, recipes often feature canned crab. The meat in this format is often already broken up, making the mashing and mixing process fairly easy. A cold dip on a hot day makes for a light meal served with just salad or chopped vegetables.
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.
Cold dips can be light or heavy depending on the dairy base you prefer to use. Though cream cheese can be harder to cream for small hands, you can ease this problem by letting it sit out for a while. Once this has been blended in with the crab and other flavorings and refrigerated, the texture will be fairly rich. Alternatively, begin with a quark or cottage cheese for easier mashing and a lighter consistency.
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.
Presentation makes up a big part of the dining experience. No matter how your child mixes the food on his plate, he wants the food to look good when you serve it to him. Try filling scooped-out bread rolls with your dip or small hollowed-out tomatoes. Do not waste the tomato, but add this in to the dip. Use chips or vegetables such celery, carrots or cauliflower to eat your dip. Top wit colorful cheese, a sprinkle of paprika or some lemon or lime wedges. Cut through the richness of this meat or the thick dairy base of your dip with a crisp drink offering the balance of citrus. Wines such as Riesling, Gewurztraminer or some Chardonnays pair nicely with seafood. For children or adults who prefer a non-alcoholic beverage, consider lemon tea or citrus-flavored soft drink.
Want to offer your friends a treat at your next gathering? You may need to know more about crab dip recipes. There are a number of crab recipes available.
