Photo courtesy of ASMI (Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute)
When deciding on what dip to serve with Alaskan king crab legs, err on the side of something rich to complement this catch’s naturally rich flavor profile. Mild, sweet and almost buttery in flavor, king crab deserves a bit of decadence in its dip possibilities. Buttery and creamy dips work particularly well, highlighting this crab’s notable qualities.
Here are 8 unexpected dips for your Alaskan king crab that go beyond the usual garlic butters and tartar-type sauces so that you can truly treat yourself.
Brandy Mayonnaise
The delicate, lobster-like texture of king crab meat is firm enough to pull through a creamy dip like this zesty brandy mayonnaise from Saveur without falling apart. If you don’t have a bottle of brandy in your pantry or liquor cabinet, try substituting an equal amount of apple juice to impart a comparably fruity flavor.
Gewurztraminer-Herb Butter
This butter sauce from Food & Wine simmers down a cup of gewurztraminer to produce an aromatic, slightly sweet base for the dip. Finished off with fresh chives, spearmint, and lemon balm, the butter sauce is elevated even further with herbaceous notes that build on the fruity-floral flavor profile of gewurztraminer. Make sure you pick a bottle that you won’t mind drinking, too, since you’ll have plenty left over to enjoy with the crab legs.
Meyer Lemon-Miso Butter
Clarified butter gets transformed into an umami bomb in this miso butter recipe from Martha Stewart Living. The twist, though, is a splash of fresh Meyer lemon juice (or, if that’s unavailable to you, fresh lemon juice) which gives the butter a bit more dimension — perfect for king crab. By the way, if you have a jar of ghee or clarified butter in your refrigerator, you can simply melt a ½ cup of it, then mix in the remaining ingredients.
Avocado Wasabi Mayo
There are a few crab dipping sauce recommendations offered by La Crema on their blog, but we suggest you scroll down to the recipe for avocado-wasabi mayo for a creamy dip that will give your king crab legs a little kick. Make sure your avocado is nice and ripe if you’re making this dip, as you won’t be able to get a smooth textured dip when using an avocado that’s still a bit too hard.
Absinthe-Herb Butter
A splash of absinthe (or pastis if that’s what is accessible to you) gives this herb butter dip from Steven Raichlen an infusion of anisette flavor. Garlic and fresh green herbs help to temper this somewhat sweet flavor note so that the butter is a little savory too — a balance of flavors that highlights the naturally sweet flavor of king crab.
Lemongrass-Ginger Butter
A good prelude to a meal inspired by the flavors of Southeast Asia, this lemongrass-ginger butter recipe from Jack Amon is particularly aromatic and a cinch to make. Make sure you’re using fresh lemongrass to get the most complex infusion of flavors from this ingredient; you’ll usually be able to find it at an Asian market or your local health food store.
Green Goddess Aioli
Salty’s recipe for green goddess aioli is a pleasantly tangy, herbaceous, yet creamy dip to serve with king crab. It’s also easy to make, as you’re not making an aioli from scratch: The recipe uses mayonnaise as a base, jazzing it up with a classic mix of herbs, capers, buttermilk, and sour cream. Just blend up all of the ingredients in a small food processor until smooth and green.
Champagne Beurre Blanc
Beurre blanc makes for a velvety, rich king crab dip, but this recipe from Cuisine at Home takes an already decadent beurre blanc to the next level by cooking with champagne in its base — though, really, you can use any good, sparkling white wine here instead so that you can save all the champagne for drinking.
