IMPERIAL CRAB – truly, more than a title!
Below is another fine old recipe from the famed collection of St. Paul’s by the Sea located in Ocean City Maryland. Within this collection is this statement – “The original land patent for Ocean City is, “The Ladies Resort To The Ocean”. And, they did, resorting to building and running the small sideside hotels and rooming houses. By the 1890′s their hard work and sacrifice put Ocean City on the map. It is from their kitchens that these recipes come.”
CRAB IMPERIAL
1 lb. back fin crabmeat
2 egg whites, stiffly beaten
2 tbsp. quality mayonnaise
2 tbsp. mild, wet yellow mustard
6 saltines (use rolling pin to mash fine as sugar)
green pepper (not too much, enough to season) finely chopped
1 small jar pimientos
When mixing ingredients, be careful not to break lump crabmeat. If you use crab shells, melt some butter to coat inside of shells**. After shells are filled, place a teaspoon of mayonnaise on top. Heat at 400 about 15 minutes. Watch carefully, when mayonnaise becomes brown, remove from oven.
**Use individual ramekins if shells are not available.
Pondering the focus on good food here at the Maryland seashore one comes to the conclusion that the original, old time resort town of Ocean City Maryland was built upon two things; its proximity to the vast ocean and the bounteous seafood derived from it. Several of our town’s finest restaurants actually began as small diners – purveying fresh caught crabs, oysters, clams and fish. Of these bay and ocean offerings, crab was and remains – king! No matter the reason for the occasion here on the Eastern Shore – the famed, Atlantic Blue Crab is served in some fashion. Hot steamed hard crabs, buttery sautéed soft crabs, melting cheesy crab dip, spicy crab cake sandwiches, and of course, the best of all, Imperial Crab are all favorite dishes. Going back to the cookbook from the women of St. Paul’s by the Sea we found what I believe to be the best Imperial Crab recipe of all! It requires a little effort…beating egg whites, mincing fresh green pepper and pimentos, pulverizing crackers into powder but result is, oh, so worth it! It’s the perfect melding of flavorful crab and other subtle flavors! A truly ‘Imperial’ dish!
To enlarge our ‘delicious’ photo, just ‘click’!
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