Description
Crispy Golden Crab Bites are a delightful seafood snack featuring tender, sweet crab meat encased in a perfectly golden and crunchy panko crust. Ready in under 30 minutes, these versatile bites are ideal as appetizers, party finger food, or a quick indulgent treat that combines rich flavors with a satisfying crunch.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 8 oz fresh crab meat
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 egg, beaten
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
- Prepare the Crab Mixture: Gently combine fresh crab meat, mayonnaise, finely chopped green onions, lemon zest, garlic powder, and beaten egg in a mixing bowl. Season with salt and black pepper, mixing carefully to avoid breaking up the crab too much.
- Shape the Bites: Using your hands or a small scoop, shape the crab mixture into bite-sized balls or small patties, ensuring each piece is compact enough to hold together during frying.
- Coat with Panko: Roll each crab bite in panko breadcrumbs, pressing lightly so the coating sticks, which will give you that irresistible crunch.
- Fry to Golden Perfection: Heat vegetable oil in a skillet to medium-high heat. Carefully fry the crab bites in batches, turning occasionally until golden brown on all sides, about 3-4 minutes per batch.
- Drain and Serve: Remove the crab bites with a slotted spoon and place them on paper towels to absorb excess oil. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauces.
Notes
- Use fresh crab meat for the best texture and flavor; canned lump crab can work if pressed and drained well.
- Don’t overmix the crab mixture to keep lumps intact for better texture.
- Maintain a steady medium-high heat for frying to ensure a crispy crust without absorbing excess oil.
- Avoid overcrowding the pan when frying to prevent the oil temperature from dropping and causing soggy bites.
- Drain crab bites on paper towels briefly before serving to keep them crisp and delicious.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 bites
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 0.5g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 55mg