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New To Seafood? Four Crab Dishes To Order

Many people do not grow up eating seafood because it can be pricey. But when you grow older and begin dining out as an adult, you will find that many of your friends enjoy — and perhaps even prefer — dining at seafood restaurants. As someone who is not overly familiar with seafood, you may be unsure of what to order. Crab is a good seafood to start with since it has a meat-like texture and a rather mild flavor. Here are four crab dishes that you're likely to like.

Crab Cakes

Sometimes sold as an appetizer or as a somewhat larger portion for lunch, crab cakes are made from shredded crab meat mixed with seasonings, coated in breadcrumbs, and pan-fried lightly. The outside has a crunchy texture and the inside a soft, delicate texture, which makes for an enjoyable eating experience. Sometimes crab cakes are served with a sauce or two for dipping, and other times they are served on a light roll, like a hamburger.

Crab Bisque

If the restaurant has a soup and salad menu, you could make a lunch out of a bowl of crab bisque and a side salad. Crab bisque is a very flavorful soup made with concentrated stock, spices like garlic and cayenne pepper, and half-and-half or cream. It has an indulgent feel and is quite rich. Many people love dipping their bread in it. The soup has a reddish flavor, typically due to the paprika and cayenne pepper used to season it.

West Indies Salad

In spite of its name, West Indies salad is probably more popular in the western region of the U.S. than in the West Indies. It's made with shredded crab meat, diced sweet onions, salt, pepper, vegetable oil, and vinegar. It's a bit like coleslaw or a chicken salad, but with a lighter sauce. The dish is often served as a side dish with crackers but may be served on a roll as a light lunch. 

Deviled Crab

If you like croquettes, you will love deviled crab. Much like a deviled egg, the crab meat is mixed with seasonings and potato and then shaped into a cylinder. It is then coated in breadcrumbs and deep fried. The outside is crisp, and the inside is creamy and tender. Deviled crab is often served with cocktail sauce for dipping.

You really can't go wrong with these crab dishes, even if you're new to seafood, so be sure to look for them on the seafood restaurant lunch menu