Maryland Crab Feast Recipe

Name: Maryland Crab Feast Recipe
Total time: 30 min
Yield: Depends on the number of crabs
Ingredients: One or two (12-ounce) cans beer, such as a light American lager; Distilled white or cider vinegar, as needed, plus more for serving; Live Maryland blue crabs, as many as you want; Old Bay or other similar seasoning mixture, as needed; Drawn or melted butter, for serving

Prep Time

Cook Time

Total Time

30m

This Maryland Crab Feast recipe is a classic way to enjoy the savory flavors of blue crabs. Steam the crabs in beer and vinegar, then season generously with Old Bay. Serve with melted butter and extra vinegar for dipping. Perfect for a summer gathering or a cozy night in.

Recipe Options

Ingredients

Servings: Depends on the number of crabs

Scale:

Scale

0.25

0.5

One or two (12-ounce) cans beer, such as a light American lager

Distilled white or cider vinegar, as needed, plus more for serving

Live Maryland blue crabs, as many as you want

Old Bay or other similar seasoning mixture, as needed

Drawn or melted butter, for serving

Steps

Add enough beer to the largest pot you own to reach a depth of roughly 1 inch. Pour in a generous splash of vinegar. The exact quantity isn't important; just give it a good little glug. (Note: You can also just use water to steam the crabs, if you want. The flavor difference will be subtle.)

Add a steaming rack tall enough to stand higher than the liquid level in the pot. If you don't have one, try wadding aluminum foil into ropes to make a makeshift rack that will hold the crabs aloft.

Add the crabs, a few at a time, generously sprinkling Old Bay all over them as you go. Add Old Bay to taste (the more you use, the spicier the crabs will be). If you can't fit all your crabs in the pot and/or can't fit a cover on the pot, you will have to steam them in batches.

Set over high heat and bring to a boil. Cover pot and cook for 15 minutes. Check the crabs: They should be bright red and piping-hot when done. If they're not, cook for an additional 5 to 15 minutes, until crabs are bright red and no traces of blue remain.

Remove crabs and repeat with any remaining crabs. Serve with distilled vinegar and drawn butter on newspaper-covered tables. Sides like corn on the cob , cornbread , and coleslaw are commonly served alongside.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

58kcal

2%
Fat

0g

0%
Saturated Fat

0g

0%
Carbohydrates

5g

0%
Fiber

0g

0%
Sugar

0g

0%
Protein

0g

0%
Cholesterol

0mg

0%
Sodium

228mg

11%

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Maryland Crab Feast Recipe

Ingredients

Steps

Nutrition Facts Nutrition facts are based on 1 serving. If servings is not specified, 6 is assumed for the total recipe.

Nutrition Facts