The Fake Crab Case
Imitation crab, also known as crab, kai-rab, fake crab, and crab sticks, is a mixture of fish (usually Alaskan pollock) and starch that has a shape and color that resembles a crab’s leg. Basically, this is a seafood lunch and can be surprisingly delicious. (I used to eat it straight out of the box, like the rest of my lunch, and have no regrets.)
Does it taste exactly like a real crab? No. But it’s close, and in some cases, the lack of real nuanced crab flavor becomes almost an advantage. While I love good crab sauce, it’s always a little embarrassing to cover up the delicate flavor of my favorite (expensive) sea beetle with cream cheese, mayonnaise, or any creamy substrate the recipe calls for.
Even the cheapest canned “real” crab will set you back about four dollars for a six-ounce can. Meanwhile, you can buy a pound of crab for six dollars.
Crab Dip
For cold crab sauce, combine four ounces of cream cheese and 1/4 cup sour cream in a food processor and whisk until smooth. Add the juice of half a lemon, a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper to taste, and any other seasoning you like. Old Bay, wasabi powder, hot sauce, horseradish and garlic powder are all pretty tasty, but I especially love Trader Joe’s Garlic Salt Grinder here. Process again to blend, then gently add eight ounces of chopped imitation crab. Sprinkle garlic on top and serve with crackers, croutons, or sliced bread.
For the hot sauce, I love this simple recipe from Allrecipes , which combines cream cheese, mayonnaise, and cheddar for a bubbly, light delicacy. This recipe calls for a real crab, but I usually use a fake one as smothering a real crab with a pound of cream cheese seems like a low-key crime. The fake crabs go well with the salty, mind-infused seafood notes.
Light sushi
If you are over 30 and raised in the United States, it is possible that you got to know sushi by making a California Crab Roll. Fish wrapped in rice is good, even if it is a fish imitating a crab. California Rolls are a quick and cheap lunch and dinner rich in protein. Just cook the sushi rice ( Alton Brown can show you how here ) and let it cool to room temperature. Cover the sushi mat with plastic wrap and spread out 3/4 cup rice to make a large square. Arrange the nori rice, then place the small pieces of crab, cucumber and avocado about an inch and a half from the bottom of the nori. Roll the whole thing up tightly, cut into eight, and serve with soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger.
Crab fried rice
Fried rice is arguably the most sought after rice (or whatever), and sweet surimi is the perfect foil for salty crunchy grains. Fit any recipe fried rice, but above bokkeumbap (Korean fried rice) from Maangchi especially fragrant and beautiful, like her more streamlined fried rice with kimchi .
I also love the fake crab in my seafood sandwich, which I call “subway style.” Just mix it with a little mayonnaise and a little garlic salt and enjoy it on a soft sandwich bun. After all, this is sea meat.