Crab meat is undeniably expensive, but oh, so delicious. The following five crab appetizers are easy and quick to prepare. Just one pound of crab meat should be enough to make 16 crab appetizers, so this provides you and your guests with some elegant bites to start your party off in style. You can also substitute the Krab(TM) product in any of these recipes, but the real crab does produce a superior result. So, let’s get cooking!
For each of these crab appetizers, begin by sorting and cleaning the crab meat, removing any cartilage you may find.
1.Crab quesadillas are a delicious variation on the traditional Mexican recipe. Lightly fry four 8-inch flour tortillas and drain on paper towels. Thinly slice two green onions. Finely dice one half of a small Spanish red onion and one third pound of dill Havarti cheese. Lay out one tortilla on a cutting board and distribute half of the crab meat, green and red onions and the cheese over the tortilla. Top with another tortilla and set aside. Repeat with the remaining two tortillas. Pop them in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, just until the cheese is melted. Use a pizza cutter to cut each quesadilla into eight pieces. Garnish each piece with a sprig of fresh dill.
2.This crab appetizer takes its cue from the Crab Louie salad. It’s a scrumptious mini-salad that will please the most finicky gourmet. Break eight leaves of hearts of Romaine in half. Divide the crab among the sixteen pieces of lettuce. Place one cherry tomato and one slice of hard boiled egg on one side. Sprinkle freshly ground black pepper over each lettuce boat. Drizzle a little lemon juice over the crab and garnish with a feather of fresh tarragon. Serve Thousand Island dressing on the side, if you wish. Delicious!
3.The crab and cream cheese petit fours on dill rye is perhaps the easiest of these crab appetizers to prepare, but certainly not lacking in flavor or elegance. Lightly toast four slices of dill rye bread. Brush each slice with melted butter and cut in fours. Lay a slice of cream cheese (you may substitute Teleme cheese, as you prefer) on each piece. Place the toast on a cookie sheet and broil for a minute, just until the cheese is melted. Top with the crab meat and arrange the petit fours on a platter, with a ring of fresh dill sprigs artfully arranged around the edge of your plate.
4.These bacon-wrapped crab bites are fabulous. Break the crab meat into small pieces. In a medium bowl, combine the crab meat with two thirds cup of fine plain bread crumbs, one tablespoon of lemon juice, ½ teaspoon of dry mustard, 1/3 cup of finely diced red Spanish onion and ¼ cup of dry white wine. Form the crab mixture into 16 balls and set aside. Cut eight slices of uncooked bacon in half. Wrap the bacon slices around each ball, and skewer with a toothpick to hold the bacon in place. Lay them on a cookie sheet and broil for 2-3 minutes.
5.Crab stuffed jalapenos provide a piquant bite sized party fare delicacy. Wash, stem and seed sixteen small jalapenos, then slice them lengthwise. Lay a slice of cream or Teleme cheese inside the peppers, top with the crab meat and broil for 1-2 minutes.
It should take no longer than 30 minutes to prepare any of these delicious crab appetizers. They are all guaranteed hits at your next party. Bon Appetit!
Not a cook? Cooking seafood is your easy, quick, nutritious menu choice !