How To Put Maryland Crab Cakes Into Your Super Bowl Party Menu

Fellow Marylanders, the Big Game is coming up, and it’s imperative to incorporate crab cakes, the Maryland staple, into your Super Bowl party menu.

Sure, you’ve probably heard of crab cakes. So what makes a crab cake a Maryland crab cake?

First of all, Maryland takes its crab cakes seriously. We consider them the gold standard in the culinary world.

So, what makes them special? Maybe it’s the seasoning. Some might say it’s the specific ingredients in the patties. A few folks may even focus on the proportion of breadcrumbs.

There are no set rules, of course. You don’t need to worry about a visit from the Crab Cops due to crab-cake crimes. But there’s one thing you should know: Maryland crab cakes must have meat from a Maryland blue crab.

But if you’re new to the kitchen or new to Maryland, have no fear: McCormick and company will guide you.

Super Bowl party appetizers

Super Bowl LVI takes place on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. The NFL championship game is one of the biggest events of any kind every year.

So if you haven’t stocked up your fridge with the finest MD crab meat, there’s still time.

However, due to COVID-19 and supply-chain issues, the price of crab meat has gone up. (As a result, I would suggest you stock up a bit early for your Super Bowl party.)

Thankfully, McCormick, the famed seasoning and spice company, has us covered for the first recipe.

Crab balls

Crab balls are the easiest way to get a bang for your buck by spreading out your jumbo lump crabmeat for everyone to enjoy.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

• 1 package Old Bay Classic Crab Cake Seasoning Mix
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 pound fresh crabmeat drained and cartilage removed
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• Old Bay Tartar Sauce

This quick recipe calls for a prep time of just 10 minutes and cook time of 15 minutes:

1. Combine Crab Cake Mix and mayo in a large bowl.
2. Then, add crabmeat and gently toss until well-blended.
3. Shape the crabmeat into 24 balls.
4. Fry the crab balls in batches in hot oil until golden brown, turning once. (If you’re against frying, you could also broil the crab balls on high for about 4-6 minutes per side until golden brown.)
5. Drain the crab balls on paper towels to get rid of the grease. Serve with tartar sauce (if you must, I prefer them plain) and enjoy! 

Crab dip

I had crip dip for the first time a few months ago (Marylanders, don’t punish me), and it was delicious.

For your Super Bowl party menu, I would definitely recommend this fun recipe.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup chopped green onion
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• ½ of a lemon, juiced
• 1 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• ½ teaspoon hot sauce, or more, to taste
• 1 pound fresh jumbo lump crab meat

It takes only 20 minutes for this recipe:

1. First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Then, add cream cheese to a mixing bowl and beat until smooth. Stir in mayo, sour cream, garlic, green onion, Old Bay seasoning, salt, Worcestershire, and lemon juice.
3. Add ¾ cup cheddar cheese and hot sauce, and then mix until smooth. Stir in crab meat.
4. Spread into a 9-inch pie dish or similar size baking pan and sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese on top. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly.
5. Serve warm, with slices of sourdough bread, crackers, tortilla chips or chopped cold veggies.

Lastly, be sure to serve this crab dip with sourdough bread. It sets it off!

Seafood salad

When I was younger, I would tear up a bowl of seafood salad with some crackers. It’s no doubt that your Super Bowl party guests will do the same this year.

I had to defer to my girl Tammy for this one. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 16 oz. box pasta pre-cooked
• 2 1/2 -3 cups mayo
• 1/2 lemon juice, squeezed
• 1 small bag extra-small shrimp freezer section/precooked
• 1 8 oz. pack lobster meat freezer section
• 2 6 oz. cans crab meat can substitute for lump crab
• 2 stalks celery finely diced
• 1 cup green bell peppers diced
• 1 cup red bell peppers diced
• 1 cup red onions diced
• 1/2 – 3/4 cup sweet relish to taste
• salt to taste
• black pepper to taste
• onion powder to taste
• garlic powder to taste
• old bay seasoning to taste
• paprika

Now, this may look like a load of ingredients, but this seafood salad is easy to make:

1. First, add mayo, lemon juice, and combine into a large bowl.
2. Then, add celery, bell peppers, onions, and combine.
3. Add shrimp, crab meat, lobster meat, and combine.
4. Next, add pre-cooked pasta and incorporate it with the seafood and veggies.
5. Season with salt, ground black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, combine and garnish with paprika.
6. Finally, enjoy and serve with crackers!