Crab dip

Crab dip served with flatbread

Crab dip, sometimes referred to as Maryland crab dip,^[1][2] is a thick, creamy dip that is typically prepared from cream cheese^[3] and lump crab meat.^[4] Other primary ingredients such as mayonnaise may be used. Various types of crab preparations, species and superfamilies are used, as are a variety of added ingredients. It is typically served hot, although cold versions also exist.^[5][6] Hot versions are typically baked or broiled. It is sometimes served as an appetizer.^[7][8] Accompaniments may include crackers and various breads. Some U.S. restaurants offer crab dip, commercially produced varieties exist, and some stadiums offer it as a part of their concessions.

Ingredients

Fresh, frozen or canned crab meat may be used in the preparation of crab dip.^[4][5][9] Different types of crab meat may be used, such as jumbo lump,^[6][7] lump^[4] backfin,^[5] leg^[10] and claw, among others. Various types of crab species and superfamilies are also used, such as blue crab,^[2][11] Dungeness crab^[8] and Alaska king crab,^[10] among others.

Some versions may use mayonnaise, other types of cheese, such as pepper jack cheese, brie cheese or Cheddar cheese instead of cream cheese as primary ingredients.^{[10][12][13][14][15]} Some may incorporate other seafoods in addition to crab, such as imitation crab,^[13] lobster,^[16] shrimp^[17] and surimi.^[18] Additional ingredients may include mushrooms, artichoke, onion, green onion, shallot, green pepper, bread crumbs (such as panko),^[2] heavy cream and others.^[9][10][12] Bread crumbs may be used to top the dish, which may be browned during the cooking process creating a crust.^[2] Sometimes Parmesan cheese is combined with the bread crumbs.^[6] Some versions use Old Bay Seasoning as an ingredient to add flavor, and some are prepared spicy with the addition of ingredients such as hot sauce and red pepper.^[19][20]

• Crab dips
• 
  Warm crab dip with cheddar cheese
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  Warm crab and lobster dip served with bread
• 
  Close-up view of the same crab and lobster dip
• 
  Close-up of crab dip, with a crab atop

Preparation and service

Some U.S. restaurants offer crab dip on their menus.^[21] Commercially mass-produced crab dips are also manufactured.^[22] Crab dip can be prepared in advance, refrigerated, and cooked at a later time.^[10] It may be served in bread that has been hollowed-out, such as a sourdough loaf.^[15] Crab dip may be served with crackers, flatbread, pita bread, bread, crostino, pretzels and sliced vegetables, among other accompaniments.^[1][7][10]

• 
  Crab dip being baked in a toaster oven
• 
  Crab dip served with vegetables

Stadium concessions

The Nationals Park baseball park in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington, D.C., the home ballpark for the Washington Nationals, offers a sandwich prepared with a half-smoke, Maryland crab dip and Virginia ham called "The DMV" as part of its concessions.^[23] It was reported in August 2014 that Byrd Stadium on the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland planned to offer a large 1.5 pound soft pretzel baked with crab dip and melted cheese that serves four people as part of its concessions.^[24] Byrd Stadium also offers other foods prepared with crab, such as nachos and "crab fries".^[24]

See also

References

External links

• Media related to Crab dip at Wikimedia Commons