Introducing your family to seafood can be risky. Many fish cook up into strong flavors which put young palates off. Some shoppers cannot access fresh fish easily. Meanwhile, crab dip recipes offer cooks the chance to experiment with varying crab styles and combinations with other flavors to satisfy the preferences of picky eaters.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 guests a treat at your next gathering? You will want to know more about crab dip recipes. There are a number of crab recipes available.
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