Description
Crispy crab balls are the perfect appetizer served with spicy chipotle tartar sauce for dipping. They’re loaded with crab meat, buttery cracker crumbs, and spicy Old Bay seasoning, and pan-fried rather than deep-fried.
Ingredients
Scale
Chipotle Tartar Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons adobo sauce (from a can of chipotle in adobo)
- 2 tablespoons dill relish
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Crab Balls
- 1 cup finely crushed Ritz crackers
- 1 pound crab meat
- zest of one lemon
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
Chipotle Tartar Sauce
- In a medium bowl, mix mayonnaise, adobo sauce, relish, lemon juice, and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Crab Balls
- In a large bowl, combine the crushed Ritz, crab, lemon zest, lemon juice, Old Bay, and parsley. Mix until evenly combined.
- Form the mixture into 1 1/2- inch balls.
- Fill a large skillet 1/4- inch deep with oil. Heat the oil on medium until it reaches 350°F. (Trick – place the tip of the handle of a wooden spoon into the oil. If bubbles form immediately, the oil is ready.) Place the balls in batches into the oil, frying until they are golden brown (about 3 minutes on each side). Transfer the balls to a paper towel-lined plate, and repeat with the remaining balls.
- Serve warm with Chipotle Tartar Sauce.
Notes
The Chipotle Mayonnaise can be made up to 5 days in advance. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container until ready to use.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 56
- Sugar: 0.1 g
- Sodium: 281.6 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Carbohydrates: 0.7 g
- Protein: 5.9 g
- Cholesterol: 16.1 mg
