Crabs are a real delicacy of the sea. The delicious dishes that can be made from them have endless flavors. But what about some crab sauce pairings? You could use some delicious sauces for fish, but how about some simple recipes you can make at home. I have several of the best crab sauces that are tasty and easy kitchen treats!
Some of the best sauces for crab you can make are a garlic butter sauce, classic tartar sauce, lemon aioli, and Cajun-style crab sauce. But this isn’t all the delicious crab sauces you can make, so let’s cover them all!
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🤷 Types of Crabs
Blue Crab: Blue crab has a sweet, delicate flavor and tender meat.
Dungeness Crab: A rich, slightly sweet-tasting crab with firm, succulent meat.
Snow Crab: Snow crab features sweet and slightly salty meat with a delicate texture.
King Crab: A crab renowned for its large size and succulent, sweet meat.
📌 Popular Crab Dishes
Crab Cakes: Succulent crab meat combined with breadcrumbs and savory seasonings.
Crab Rangoon: Crispy wonton wrappers filled with a creamy mixture of crab, cream cheese, and spices.
Chili Crab: A spicy and tangy Singaporean dish featuring stir-fried crab in a chili-based tomato sauce.
Crab Linguine: Tender crab meat tossed with al dente linguine in a garlic butter sauce.
Crab Bisque: A velvety soup made with crab meat, cream, and aromatic herbs.
💡 Best Crab Sauces
Cajun Style Crab Sauce
You just got to have a Cajun Style Sauce for your crab dish. You can’t go wrong with the delicious flavors of the South. This sauce embodies the spicy flavors of Louisiana cuisine, using a blend of sautéed onions, bell peppers, celery, Cajun seasoning, and diced tomatoes. A true classic crab sauce for all meals.
Miso Ginger Sauce
Why not blend a delicious Asian sauce with the pungent taste of ginger. This simple miso ginger sauce gives you the delicious savory goodness of miso coupled with the spicy, pepper flavor of ginger. That added splash of soy sauce and rice vinegar will give you one of the tastiest crab sauces around. If you don’t have any miso, you can try using some miso paste substitutes instead.
Spicy Diablo Sauce
Add a splash from the fiery pits of the inferno with this spicy diablo sauce. You can really turn up the heat with your grab dish with this delicious little sauce. It contains a spicy blend of a tomato base blended with onions, hot sauce, and spices that are simmered to spicy perfection.
Classic Tartar Sauce
A tartar sauce is no hit-and-miss when paired with crabs. It’s the perfect sea delight dip with a flavor and texture that’s perfect for all. The creaminess, the tang, just pure flavor! With mayo, finely chopped onion, and a lemon juice blend, there’s a reason it’s a classic seafood sauce favored by all.
Homemade Cocktail Sauce
This is a true seafood cold sauce for any and all dishes. A cocktail sauce is one of the easiest yet most delicious crab sauces you can whip up. A simple ketchup, horseradish, Worcestershire, and Tabasco blend can give you layers of flavor in every drop. You can even try using horseradish substitutes for an even better flavor.
Lemon Aioli
Creamy, delicious tanginess is exactly what flavors crab needs. A tasty lemon aioli is that and more! The richness of crabs really mix well with this simple mayonnaise, garlic, and lemon juice blend. A dollop of this next to your favorite crab dish, and you have the perfect creamy, rich meal.
Garlic Butter Sauce
A classic, rich, and elegant sauce you can whip up is the delicious garlic butter sauce. This is a true staple for crab dishes, marrying that rich buttery flavor with that punch of garlic. The richness and ease make it one of the best sauces for crab. A drizzle of lemon, and you can even make yourself a fantastic garlic lemon butter sauce!
🧐 FAQs
Long, thin pasta like spaghetti or linguine are classic choices for crab sauces. A fiery crab sauce would pair exceptionally well with cooked pasta thanks to its clinging ability.
The cooking time can vary, but a common duration is around 10 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld. For recipes with cream or butter, simmer until the sauce reaches the desired consistency.
Most crab sauces start with a flavorful base of sautéed aromatic vegetables such as onion and garlic. They’ll often incorporate a liquid component like white wine or seafood stock to enhance the taste.
Yes, while fresh crab meat is ideal for flavor and texture, canned crab can also be used in a pinch. It’s important to drain it well to avoid watering down the sauce.