The Fourth of July always startles us into the realization that summer is flying by faster than we'd like. Time to pick some blue crabs with good friends before everyone scatters for late-summer vacations and early-fall obligations.
Chef Greg Hare, until recently a chef instructor at Baltimore International College, showed us how to steam Maryland's favorite catch in beer and cider vinegar. "It just adds more pizazz" than water, he says. Instead of Old Bay, he makes his own seafood seasoning mix.
If you'd like to steam corn and potatoes in the same pot with the crabs, alternate layers of the vegetables with the layers of crabs, starting with the crabs. Separate each layer of food from the others with several sheets of newspaper.
kate.shatzkin@baltsun.com
CHEF'S TIPS
Here are tips for great crabs from chef Greg Hare:
Buy your live crabs no earlier than the morning of your feast, and keep them in the refrigerator.
Half an hour before steaming, place crabs in ice water to calm them before cooking -- they'll be easier to handle.
Place crabs in the pot one at a time so you can arrange them carefully in single layers. Be sure to discard any crabs that have died before cooking.
HOMEMADE SEAFOOD SEASONING / / MAKES 1 TO 11 / 2 POUNDS
1 / 2 cup paprika
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 / 3 cup mustard powder
2 tablespoons fresh bay leaf, finely ground
1 / 2 tablespoon ground cardamom
1 / 2 teaspoon ground clove
1 / 2 tablespoon ground allspice
11 / 2 tablespoons black pepper, table grind
2 tablespoons granulated garlic
2 tablespoons onion powder
1 / 2 teaspoon mace
1 / 2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 to 4 tablespoons cayenne pepper (depending on how hot you like it)
11 / 2 tablespoons celery salt
3 / 4 pound kosher salt
Combine paprika, ginger and mustard powder and sift into a bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix together. Serve on any steamed seafood.
Courtesy of chef Greg Hare
Per 11 / 4 ounces: 55 calories, 3 grams protein, 3 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 6 grams carbohydrate, 2 grams fiber, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 8,789 milligrams sodium