Juicy crab sauce has become a hugely popular condiment, especially for seafood lovers But what exactly goes into this addictive sauce? Let’s take an in-depth look at the main ingredients that give juicy crab sauce its signature flavor.
The Main Ingredients
Here are the core components that make up juicy crab sauce:
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise forms the base of juicy crab sauce. A thick, creamy emulsion of oil, egg yolks, and vinegar or lemon juice, mayonnaise provides a rich, fatty background for the other ingredients. Store-bought mayo works fine, but homemade has superior flavor.
Ketchup
Ketchup adds sweetness, tomato flavor, and that tangy zip. Standard tomato ketchup is most common, but some recipes call for spicy ketchup for extra kick.
Worcestershire Sauce
This fermented British condiment brings a savory depth of flavor The tamarind and molasses in Worcestershier impart slight tartness and sweetness
Old Bay Seasoning
No juicy crab sauce is complete without Old Bay’s distinctive blend of herbs and spices. Celery salt mustard, paprika and red pepper flakes are especially prominent.
Lemon Juice
Fresh lemon juice balances out the richness of the mayo and gives the sauce a bright acidity. Bottled lemon juice works in a pinch.
Garlic
For an extra layer of flavor, garlic is minced or pressed and added to the sauce. Raw garlic provides pungency while roasted garlic brings out sweeter notes.
Onion
Similarly, onion (yellow, white or red) can be minced and incorporated for crunch and flavor. Some recipes call for onion powder instead.
Extra Ingredients & Variations
While mayo, ketchup, Worcestershire, Old Bay, lemon, and garlic/onion form the basic framework, juicy crab sauce recipes often include additional ingredients to put a unique spin on the condiment. Some popular extra additions include:
- Horseradish – for sinus-clearing spice and heat
- Hot sauce – Tabasco, Sriracha, etc. for extra punch
- Dijon mustard – more tang and body
- Celery seed – earthiness and subtle crunch
- Paprika – smoky aroma and red hue
- Cilantro – fresh herbal flavor
- Pepper – black, white, or cayenne for heat
- Sugar – to balance acidity and add sweetness
- Salt & pepper – for seasoning
The proportions of the core ingredients can be adjusted to make the sauce creamier, spicier, tangier, or sweeter depending on personal preference. And while lump crab meat isn’t an actual ingredient, it’s almost always served with juicy crab sauce for dipping!
Why So Popular?
So what makes juicy crab sauce so addictive? The combination of rich, creamy mayo, zesty ketchup, savory Old Bay, and bright lemon juice creates a sauce that perfectly complements sweet crab meat. The mixture of flavors and textures is simply irresistible. Juicy crab sauce is easy to make at home yet feels indulgent. No wonder it has become a staple sauce for crab boils, crab cakes, and other crab-centric dishes.
Next time you crack open some fresh crab, be sure to have juicy crab sauce on hand for the quintessential dipping experience. Just stay away from the white dress shirts! With the right balance of ingredients, this sauce is truly hard to resist.
Absolutely LOVE this recipe!!!! Recommendation: 100% Must Try
After our last visit to Hot N Juicy, me and J kept thinking about the savory, hot, buttery taste of those shrimps. Occasionally we found this video tutoring how to make copycat version of Hot N Juicy cajun boil and garlic butter sauce. It seems not difficult at all!!! And the best part is when making your own Hot N Juicy boil at home, you get to choose what to put include in your meal, the quality of seafood, and you can tweak the taste as much as you want~~~ (Best of all, it’s a lot cheaper LOL)
In the video, it is very clear and simple about two parts: the garlic butter sauce and the boil
Since this is a test fire version, I only used the easy access ingredients in this meal: Shrimps, clams, potatoes, corns, and Italian sausages.
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FAQ
What is seafood boil sauce made of?
Seafood boil sauce is made of a mixture of butter, onion, garlic, Old Bay seasoning, paprika, lemon pepper seasoning, chili powder or cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, broth, and lemon.
What’s the difference between juicy seafood and juicy crab?
You can tell the difference because the Juicy Crab logo shows a red crab, claws up, holding a sign that says “The Juicy Crab,” while The Juicy Seafood features a red crab holding a crab fork, with the restaurant’s name printed across its shell.
What is the best sauce for crabs?
Now once you have your crab cooked and picked, here are my favorite dipping sauces to go with the crab meat. A simple Garlic Clarified Butter dipping sauce, Avocado Wasabi Mayonnaise dipping sauce and a Curry Mustard dipping sauce; all three are very different from each other but totally delicious.
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.