Find Crab Dip Recipes For Your Fussy Eater

By John Payne

Pot lucks often offer very 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 found recipe books. These dips offer a versatile option because they can be rich, light, spicy or even gluten-free.

If you think serving crab may be a risk, perhaps start with your cheapest option. Both imitation and canned crab meat can be available inexpensively. Imitation crab tastes and feels very different from the real thing. If your children like the taste of the canned meat better, progressing to real, fresh crab from a supplier of fresh seafood will then be justified.

Once you choose the crab that your family enjoys best, decide on a hot or cold recipe. Cold dips make great summer meals for light eating or a pot luck supper. Use this as a luscious alternative to hot dogs and hamburgers or the regular picnic sandwiches you might have otherwise made using peanut butter and jelly or egg salad. Add your crab dip to an otherwise boring salad.

Hot crab dishes may work best with fresh crab, which needs to be cooked anyway. This also offers a warm option on a cold day. Some recipes really cook up into light meals with the addition of a soup, salad or some multi-grain crackers.

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.

Add to the basic flavors of crab and dairy with spice or herbs. Some cream cheeses and hard cheeses now available come already flavored with garlic, onions or herbs. You might even want to combine crab with other seafood, such as shrimp. Salmon flavored cream cheese may give you some ideas and could combine nicely with some lemon and dill. Top with almonds, more shredded cheese, a sprinkle of paprika, or use your imagination.

Hot dips benefit from the addition of cheese which mitigates any fishiness from the crab while also giving a gooey quality from within or a crispy topping. Gratin coatings made from breadcrumbs, butter and seasonings provide a contrasting texture to the thick, rich dip with their crunchy topping. Baked dips might also make light meals on their own with the addition of eggs and flour. Make yours gluten free for sensitive diners with potato or rice flour and gluten free baking powder.

Serve your dip in a colorful dish, or even using food to present. Fill mushroom caps or peppers with the dip and cook it up. Hollow out half of a round loaf of sour dough bread and fill this with your creation. Present the dip on crackers or rounds of bread complete with vegetable faces to appeal to children. Give them something fizzy with citrus to drink with their seafood. A sugar free lemon or lime fizzy fruit drink provides balance.

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