Get Your Mouth Watering with This Delicious Recipe for Fried Crab Legs

Looking for an elegant dish for a romantic day? Well, look no further, because this recipe for fried crab legs will certainly set the mood for love. This one’s beginner friendly, with fairly accessible and inexpensive ingredients. It’s so addictive and crispy that you’ll be licking your fingers all night.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Pairings
• Equipment
• Storage and reheating
• Tips
• Recipe For Fried Crab Legs
• Comments

Ingredients

• King crab legs — 3 pcs.
• Eggs — 3 pcs.
• Water — 2 tbsp. 
• All-purpose flour — 1 cup.
• Garlic powder — ½ tsp.
• Onion powder — ½ tsp.
• Salt and pepper — to taste.
• Cayenne pepper — 1 tsp.
• Panko breadcrumbs — 1 cup.
• Old Bay seasoning — 2 tsp.
• Oil — for frying.

Instructions

1. Start by breaking the crab legs apart, using scissors or crackers.

2. Discard the shells.

3. Combine the garlic powder, onion powder, all-purpose flour, half of the Old Bay seasoning, and half of the cayenne pepper in a mixing bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste.

4. Whisk well, until combined.

5. In another bowl, beat together the eggs and the water.

6. Dip the crab legs into the flour mix, on both sides. Shake off the excess.

7. Then dip them into the egg mixture.

8. Combine the other half of Old Bay with panko and the cayenne pepper in another bowl.

9. Dip the legs into the breadcrumb mixture. Press the legs a bit so that the breading sticks.

10. Heat vegetable oil, preferably one with a high smoke point, in a skillet and fry for a few minutes.

Substitutions

• Old Bay seasoning — If you do not have Old Bay seasoning, there are some other alternatives. Let’s start with Cajun seasoning. The two have ingredients in common, with both using the same herbs and spices.
  
  There is also the combination of celery salt and paprika, which happens to be one of the main ingredients used in Old Bay, so the taste will be similar. In a minimal approach, all you have to do is mix ¼ tsp. celery salt with ¼ tsp. paprika, and you’re good to go.
  
  There is finally the matter of Crab Boil, which, similar to Old Bay, is paired commonly with seafood. The problem is that Crab Boil works better in boiled seafood, not fried. Still, feel free to give it a chance if you’re short on Old Bay seasoning.

• All-purpose flour — The original recipe calls for all-purpose flour. Cornstarch is the most ideal replacement, not to mention that it complements the spices extremely well. But we recommend going with a 50/50 mix of cornstarch and flour, as it will surely result in a better coating.
  
  Feel free to opt for almond flour, oat flour, buckwheat flour, rice flour, and potato flour.

• Cayenne pepper — If this was a list, red pepper flakes would take the top spot, without a hint of doubt. Though keep in mind that compared to cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes lack some heat, so you might need to add more.
  
  Tabasco could be a better alternative for those who are looking for a bit of taste and not only heat. Drizzle some Tabasco, and you’ll have a deeper layer of flavor on your hands, or mouth.

• Panko breadcrumbs — What makes panko different from your ordinary breadcrumbs? The answer is simple. They have a better texture, and they are crispier. Substitutes? If you have some cornflakes lying around, use a blender to turn them into crumbs. Creative, right? The same goes for pretzels or tortilla chips too.

• Cooking oil — Olive oil would work well enough, but for picky ones, there are lots of alternatives. One thing to keep in mind is that you should use an oil with a high smoke point since the heat will be high, 350 degrees.
  
  Every cooking oil has a smoke point, which, upon reaching it, the oil simply destabilizes and creates free radicals, which are extremely toxic to your body. Canola oil, coconut oil, and olive oil all have a rather high smoking point, so they should all work well.

Pairings

Serving — Though this recipe for fried crab legs is great, it can be a little dull when served alone. Seafood is pretty versatile and works great with many side dishes, but among them, cornbread stands out. If that doesn’t cut it for you, you might also want to try potatoes au gratin.

Equipment

• Scissors/crackers.

• 3 mixing bowls.

• Skillet.

• Whisk.

Storage and reheating

• Store the leftovers in the fridge within two hours after cooking.

• Freezing is another option, especially if you’d rather have the leftovers longer.

• When it comes to reheating, frozen crab legs will take longer, you might even have to thaw them overnight.

• You can use a microwave or just reheat using a pot.

Tips

• Frozen or fresh? — This recipe for fried crab legs could be made with either fresh or frozen crabs, though they’ll differ to some extent. The problem with fresh legs is that they will be hard to find, not to mention the increased price. Using frozen legs might make more sense, as long as you defrost before cooking.