Maryland Crab Shells Recipes

Steps:

• Rinse the crabs with cool water and transfer to a large cooler. Top with ice and let sit until the crabs are still, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, to make the seafood seasoning, grind the bay leaves in a spice grinder until finely ground. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the paprika, celery salt and cayenne.
• Pour the beer into a 36-quart stockpot with a basket insert and add the vinegar, 2 tablespoons of the seafood seasoning and 6 cups water. Stir to combine. Add the steamer basket (the liquid should be below the basket), cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
• Put 12 crabs in a single layer, shell-side up, on the steamer rack. Sprinkle liberally with about 1/4 cup seafood seasoning. Repeat the process, layering and sprinkling, with the remaining crabs and seasoning. Cover and steam until the crabs are bright orange all over (there should be no traces of blue or green), 20 to 25 minutes.
• Transfer the crabs to a large platter or rimmed baking sheet--or spread them out directly on a table covered with butcher paper -- and serve with crab mallets for cracking the shells.

Steps:

• Wash and clean crabs by cutting off the face just behind the eyes. Lift top of shell and remove the spongy fingers. If the crab is a female (identified by striped markings), remove the back or apron. Rinse and dry.
• Season flour with salt and pepper and mix in baking powder. Dredge crabs in mixture.
• Pour oil into skillet to depth of 1 inch. Heat to 375 degrees. Cook crabs on both sides until brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain and serve with lemon wedges and tartar sauce, if desired.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Pulse the onion, celery and red bell pepper in a food processor until minced. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the minced vegetables and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Set aside and let cool.
• Combine the mayonnaise, mustard, sherry, seafood seasoning, mace and eggs in a large bowl. Stir in the cooled vegetables. Fold in the crabmeat and cracker crumbs. Spoon about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the crab mixture into each crab shell and brush with melted butter. Place the crab shells on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.

Steps:

• Eating guidelines: It is easier to learn how to eat crabs from an expert, but if none is available, here are step-by-step instructions. First, pull off claws and legs. Break legs and check for meat. Sucking is okay. Some like to save the claws for last because they are rather dessert-like, although the "lump" meat from the body is prized most. Next, turn the crab on its back. You will see an elongated part of the shell that looks like a "T." Some call it the key, even though it doesn't look very much like one. The female key is plumper; the male's is more elongated. Pull the key back, breaking it off, which makes the rest of the shell easy to remove. Now the body of the crab is shell-less. You will now see the long rib-like strips on either side of the cavity. These are the crab's gills. Edible, but not very good. Pull them off, and you will more easily be able to break the crab in half. When you do this, you will most likely now see a good amount of white, fleshy "lump" crab meat. Continue opening the small sections to expose more meat. You will not need mallets or hammers for this. When you are ready for the claws, break them in half at the joint. Take a wooden mallet and whack the large half hard. Don't be shy. Other helpful hints: Don't wear your Sunday best. If it tastes good, you can eat it. Plates and cutlery are unnecessary; the brown paper is a communal plate. Bibs are for babies. When finished, steamed hand towels are very welcome. The easiest way to dispose of the mess is to roll up the brown paper with all the shells, etc. on it -- taking care to "rescue" knives, bowls, etc. first -- and discard in outdoor trash can. The garbage may attract animals, so be sure to keep the lid on tight. Note: Leftover crabs are excellent cold, served with a mayonnaise based dipping sauce. Cooked crabs will keep in refrigerator for a few days.
• Cover tables, preferably outdoors, with brown packaging paper and tape. For each pot of crabs, add water, beer, and approximately 1/4 packet of crab boil seasoning to pot. Bring to boil. With gloves on, remove crabs from bushel, you may have to pull them apart (carefully!) and put/shake a few at a time into pot. It is best to grab them from behind to avoid the claws, as their legs only move forward. Add enough crabs to fill bottom of pot. Sprinkle more crab boil seasoning over first layer of crabs. Continue, alternating crabs and seasoning until pot is nearly full, leaving about an inch at the top. Cover tightly. Steam over high heat for 14 to 16 minutes, or until shells are bright orange. Halfway through cooking time, shake pot to redistribute seasoning. When done, remove pot from heat. Drain over sink the accumulated liquid from pot. Spread crabs onto large tray; place in center of table where guests help themselves. Serve with small dishes of melted butter and, for those who like added seasoning, place small bowls of extra crab boil seasoning on table.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cook pasta in boiling water according to package directions.
• Drain, rinse and cool.
• Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in skillet.
• Add pepper and onion and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
• Combine crab, peppers and onions, black pepper, egg, mayonnaise, 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay and 1/2 cup milk.
• Melt 1/2 teaspoon butter in each of two 11"x7"x2" baking dishes.
• Spoon filling into pasta shells and arrange shells in dishes.
• Melt remaining butter over medium-low heat.
• Whisk in flour.
• Gradually whisk in remaining milk.
• Cook until slightly thickened.
• Stir in cheese.
• Drizzle sauce evenly over shells.
• Sprinkle with remaining Old Bay seasoning.
• Bake at 350° for 30 minutes, or until bubbly.
• Cool 10 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Mix together ingredients *except crab meat* to make a thick mixture.
• Carefully fold crab meat into mixture either with a your hands, or a spatula, just until mixed. Do not over mix.
• Over fill each mini phyllo shell with the crab meat, (about 1 tablespoon per shell).
• Sprinkle lightly with paprika, for decoration.
• Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly.