Description
These delicious baked Crab Balls are a perfect appetizer or main dish, combining fresh crabmeat with a flavorful blend of spices, fresh herbs, and a crispy cracker coating. Baked to golden perfection and drizzled with melted butter, they offer a tender, juicy texture with a delightful crunchy exterior perfect for any seafood lover.
Ingredients
Scale
Crab Ball Mixture
- 1 lb. back fin crabmeat
- 1 cup Ritz crackers, crushed
- 1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
- 2 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
Binding and Flavoring
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tsp. yellow mustard
- 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
Finishing
- Melted butter for drizzling
Instructions
- Prepare the crab meat: Place the crab meat in a mixing bowl, carefully picking out any shell fragments to ensure a smooth texture and avoid crunchiness.
- Combine dry ingredients: Add the crushed Ritz crackers, Old Bay seasoning, and fresh parsley to the crab meat. Gently mix the ingredients to combine evenly without breaking up the crab meat too much.
- Make the egg mixture: In a separate bowl, whisk together the beaten egg, yellow mustard, fresh lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth and well-blended to create a flavorful binder.
- Mix crab and egg mixture: Pour the egg mixture over the crab and cracker mixture. Gently fold the ingredients together, being careful not to break the crab pieces, to maintain texture and help bind the mixture.
- Form crab balls: Shape the combined mixture into golf ball-sized portions and place them on a cookie sheet, spaced evenly to allow for proper baking.
- Bake the crab balls: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the crab balls for 30 minutes or until they turn golden brown and are cooked through.
- Finish and serve: After baking, drizzle the crab balls with melted butter for extra richness and flavor. Allow them to cool slightly before serving to enhance the taste and texture.
Notes
- Ensure you remove all shell fragments from the crab meat for the best eating experience.
- You can substitute Ritz crackers with other mild-flavored crackers if preferred.
- Serve crab balls with a side of cocktail sauce or tartar sauce for dipping.
- For extra crispiness, consider a light spray of cooking oil before baking.
- These crab balls can be made ahead and reheated in the oven for 10 minutes at 350°F.
