Are you dreaming of having tasty shrimp and crab fritters? We often come across just crab fritters or just shrimp fritters. Here’s a combination of both to level up that fritter experience. We’ve got a detailed list of ingredients for you and how to make it.

What does fritter means?

In the dictionary, fritter means a waste of time but it could also mean delicious crispy food.

Fritters are usually made with batters sort of like a pancake batter. You can add any kind of ingredient to it and then fry it. Fritters could be sweet or savory. We’re here to tell you about shrimp and crab fritters – the best kind of savory fritters.

Shrimp and crab are the two most common kinds of crustaceans. They’re known for their sweet and ocean-like flavor and their texture is soft and bouncy. These two kinds of shellfish in a crispy fritter are the perfect kind of snack.

what-does-crab-fritters-taste-like

What do crab fritters taste like?

Fritters are like a crispy pancake. They’re crispy and slightly dough-y. They could be served sweet or savory; depending on the ingredients you mix it with.

Crab fritters taste like crispy crab aided with a crispy shell. Crab fritters are usually crispy on the outside without compromising the tenderness of the crab on the inside. A typical Southern crab fritter usually has corn in it but the more classic one is made of a simple batter.

The perfect kind of crab fritter doesn’t have an overpowering batter but one that compliments the taste of the crab. Fritters are usually eaten with a sauce like remoulade or tartar sauce.

Ingredients

Crabmeat – Use lumpy crab meat for this recipe. You want to be able to bite into chunks of crab meat and not shredded crab meat.
Shrimp meat – Peel and devein your own shrimp and chop to a size that you like for the fritter. Make sure the shrimp is fresh.
Onion – Use white onion for this recipe and dice. It’ll give flavor to the shrimp when you cook it.
Garlic – The garlic is used to flavor the shrimp when cooking, just like the onion. Use minced garlic.
Chives – Chop the chives into small rings. They’re good to add color to the fritters.
Vegetable Oil – We’re using a neutral oil to fry the fritters. Neutral oil is good so that there won’t be any unnecessary added flavor to the fritters.
Cajun Seasoning – Cajun seasoning is that flavors this delicious recipe.
Flour – Use all-purpose flour for this recipe.
Baking Powder – Baking powder is used to leaven the batter. You will want the fritter to rise a little when you fry it for that extra volume and crunch.
Milk – Instead of using water, milk will add richness to the batter.
Eggs – Eggs serve as the binder for the batter.

how-to-make-shrimp-and-crab-fritters

How to make Shrimp and Crab Fritters with Remoulade Sauce

Making fritters is very easy. Make sure that your seafood is fresh. You can use canned fresh lumpy crab for the crabs. As for the shrimp, peel and devein the shrimp then chop the shrimp into pieces.

In a pan, heat some oil and sauté the onion and garlic until tender and translucent. Add the shrimp and cook just until it changes in color. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, some salt, Cajun seasoning, salt and pepper. Add in the eggs and milk while whisking gently until the lumps are gone. Treat it like a pancake batter but you have to get rid of the lumps and you can’t over mix it.

Add the seafood and chives. Gently fold in the seafood making sure that the crab doesn’t break. Remember to keep the crab meat lumpy.

In a saucepan, heat up with vegetable oil under medium heat. Drop a dollop of fritter batter into the oil. The shapes don’t have to be perfect. Fry for 3-4 minutes per side making sure that each side browns. Remember that there is flour and eggs in the batter that needs cooking. Do not undercook the fritters and do not fry until dark brown. Remember that the texture inside must still be a little tender so you can bite into the soft seafood and not a burnt-up one.

Finally, serve with some remoulade sauce. To make the remoulade sauce, simply mix in mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chopped chives, lemon juice, some lemon zest, paprika and cayenne pepper in a bowl, et voila! You have a sauce!

what-to-serve-with-shrimp-and-crab-fritters

What to serve with shrimp and crab fritters

Shrimp and crab fritters are perfectly crispy so you’ll want to serve it with something a little bit soft or a little bit more refreshing.

For something more refreshing, you can serve shrimp and crab fritters with a salad like corn salad, a simple garden salad with Balsamic vinaigrette.

These fritters would also taste great with some grilled avocadoes seasoned with salt, pepper and olive oil or grilled mixed vegetables like carrots, capsicum, zucchini and eggplant.

Finally, you should definitely try having shrimp and crab fritters over a classic mashed potato. It’ll seem boring but the party in your mouth will be fantastic.

what-other-sauces-goes-well-with-shrimp-and-crab-fritters

What other sauces go well with shrimp and crab fritters?

Fritters are could with many kinds of condiments and sauces.

First of all, fritters aren’t just popular in the west but it is very much popular in the east as well. Fritters in the west are mostly eaten with creamier sauces and, well, actual sauces while in the east; fritters are eaten with different kinds of vinegar. Vinegar tastes very well with fritters, most especially shrimp and crab fritters.

Going back to the west though, fritters go well with remoulade sauce, tartar sauce, salsa verde, salsa and even just simple mustard.

Fritters are neutral, simple and enjoyable to eat. These sauces are mere suggestions but feel free to experiment on your own with what you think would go well with these crispy delights.