Crab imperial is a classic seafood dish that is a decadent treat for any occasion. The key component that makes this dish so delicious is the imperial sauce. With just a few simple ingredients, you can make this flavorful sauce at home to enjoy whenever the craving for crab strikes.
What is Crab Imperial?
Crab imperial is made by baking a mixture of crabmeat and imperial sauce The sauce coats the crabmeat and helps hold the mixture together when baked Imperial sauce has a rich, creamy texture thanks to egg and mayonnaise. It is seasoned with Old Bay seasoning, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and other spices to complement the sweet crabmeat. The result is a dish that is elegant yet easy enough for a weeknight dinner.
Crab imperial can be found on menus in coastal regions, especially in Maryland and Virginia where blue crabs are abundant. It’s considered a classic preparation that lets the flavor of the crab shine. While you can use any type of crabmeat, lump crab meat is ideal for retaining its texture when baked.
Why Make Your Own Imperial Sauce?
Making your own imperial sauce at home has several advantages
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Control the flavor – Tailor the sauce to your tastes by adjusting spices, mustard, etc.
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Use better ingredients – Quality mayo makes a difference in the sauce.
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Simplify preparation – Just mix the sauce ahead of time rather than making the whole dish from scratch.
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Use for other recipes – Extra imperial sauce can also be used as a crab dip or for stuffing seafood.
The sauce on its own takes just a few minutes to prepare. Having it ready allows you to quickly bake crab imperial whenever you have fresh crabmeat on hand.
Imperial Sauce Ingredients
Imperial sauce has a base of mayonnaise and egg to create a creamy texture. The other ingredients provide flavor.
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Mayonnaise – Use a high-quality mayo like Hellmann’s.
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Egg – One whole egg or egg yolk adds richness.
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Worcestershire sauce – Provides depth of flavor.
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Old Bay seasoning – Gives that signature crab seasoning flavor.
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Mustard – Dijon or yellow mustard works.
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Lemon juice – A touch of acidity to brighten the sauce.
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Herbs like parsley – Optional for freshness.
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Salt, pepper, hot sauce – Adjust to taste.
That’s all you need for a basic imperial sauce. Play around with ingredients to make it your own.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Making imperial sauce takes just a few minutes. Follow these simple steps:
1. Whisk together mayonnaise, egg, and Worcestershire sauce.
In a medium bowl, whisk to combine about 2/3 cup mayonnaise with 1 whole egg or egg yolk and 1-2 tsp Worcestershire sauce. The egg emulsifies the mayo.
2. Add seasoning and spices.
Whisk in Old Bay, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and any other seasonings you want. Add 1-2 Tbsp Old Bay, 1 tsp mustard, and a squeeze of lemon to start. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
3. Mix in fresh herbs (optional).
For extra flavor, you can finely chop 1 Tbsp fresh parsley, dill, etc. and stir it in. The fresh herbs are totally optional.
4. Combine sauce with crabmeat.
Gently fold sauce into 1 lb. lump crabmeat just until coated, being careful not to break up the crab.
5. Bake crab imperial to desired doneness.
Transfer crab mixture to a baking dish. Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes until lightly browned. The sauce helps bind the crab while baking.
That’s all there is to it! With these easy steps, you’ll have delicious homemade imperial sauce ready to take your crab imperial to new heights.
Recipe Variations
The basic imperial sauce recipe can be tweaked in many ways:
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Use part mayonnaise and part sour cream or Greek yogurt for extra tang.
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Add cayenne pepper or hot sauce for spicy kick.
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Stir in minced garlic, onions, shallots, or peppers.
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Splash in white wine, sherry, or brandy for added flavor.
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Fold in grated cheese like cheddar or Parmesan.
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Top with buttered breadcrumbs or potato chips before baking for crunch.
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Swap in other seafood like shrimp or lobster for the crabmeat.
Get creative with ingredients to put your own spin on this classic sauce!
Serving Suggestions for Crab Imperial
Crab imperial makes a lovely entree when served with a few simple sides like:
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Roasted asparagus or green beans
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Rice pilaf or creamy risotto
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Roasted potatoes or potato gratin
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Dinner salad with vinaigrette
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Crusty bread or rolls
For an appetizer, serve crab imperial baked in a casserole dish with crackers or baguette slices for dipping. The creamy, seafood-flecked sauce makes a decadent dip!
Storage and Reheating
For best flavor and texture, freshly made imperial sauce should be mixed into crabmeat and then baked right away.
Leftover baked crab imperial can be stored covered in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat gently in a 350°F oven until warmed through. The sauce may separate a bit.
Extra homemade imperial sauce can also be kept refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days. Rewhisk before using.
Enjoy this elegant dish on special occasions or anytime you have a craving for tender crabmeat bathed in rich, seasoned sauce. With this easy imperial sauce recipe, you can quickly prepare crab imperial at home as a impressive appetizer or entree.
Why This Recipe Works
If you can find it, buy fresh lump crabmeat for the crab cakes—its more expensive but worth every penny. Youll need 1 sleeve of saltines here; crush them until most have turned to dust, leaving a few pieces no bigger than a pebble.
Combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and Old Bay in large bowl. Reserve 1/2 cup sauce for serving.
Fold crabmeat, saltines, and scallions into remaining sauce until combined. Form crabmeat mixture into eight 1-inch-thick patties.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add 4 crab cakes and cook until golden brown, 21/2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to platter and tent with foil. Repeat with remaining oil and crab cakes. Serve with reserved sauce.
How To Make The Best Imperial Crab – SHOCKINGLY EASY!!!!!!
FAQ
What’s the difference between crab dip and crab imperial?
Crab imperial is more of a mayonnaise-based crab sauce to top other meats or to be eaten as like a creamy crab dish. Crab dip is cream cheese based dip (w/ mayo too) that goes on top of bread/crackers.
What is crab cake sauce made of?
While waiting for the crab cake mixture to chill, you can make the remoulade sauce. Mix mayonnaise, Dijon, mustard, sweet relish, hot sauce, rice vinegar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, ground black pepper, and lemon juice into a small bowl until thoroughly combined.
How to make crabapple sauce?
- Cook the crab apples in water until softened.
- Mash the crab apples with a potato masher.
- Pass the mashed apples through a food mill to remove the skins and seeds.