Great Crab Dip Recipe Ideas
Great crab dip recipes are usually served hot or warm with crispy crackers or raw vegetables. You can customize crab dip by adding your favorite spices and seasonings, different vegetables or by switching up the types of cheese used in the dip. Crab dips are relatively simple to make, and a great way to get your feet wet in the kitchen or to teach young children how to cook.
Depending on how hungry your guests are, most crab dip recipes serve between six and 12 people. The average serving size is around a quarter of a cup. The recipes take about half an hour to an hour to prepare, including cooking time for baked dips. Dips that you prepare on the stove are much quicker.
To prepare a crab dip, you'll need 8 ounces of cream cheese and 1/2 cup of sour cream. Use low-fat varieties if you prefer. You'll also need 8 ounces of crab meat. Use fresh or canned. If you use fresh, pick out any shells from the meat. Drain the crab meat whether it's fresh or canned. Sauté a chopped onion and several cloves of garlic for 5 minutes, then add to the cheese and meat. You can add seafood seasoning for a traditional taste, hot sauce for a spicier crab dip or herbs such as oregano and thyme.
Mix the ingredients together, and then add grated cheese of your choice, such as Parmesan or cheddar. Add a drained can of artichoke hearts and vegetables such as baby spinach or arugula if you'd like. Cook the dip on the stove for 10 minutes, simmering. For a baked dip, spread dip into a baking dish and put into a 400 degree oven for about 15 minutes. Since you're using crab meat, it's important that you cook the dip thoroughly before serving. Serve the dip while still hot with pita chips, crackers or vegetables.
