Florida Seafood Recipe: Blue Crab Fritters

For those who love conch fritters, but are having trouble getting your hands on the snail (it is illegal to harvest from Florida waters), a great substitute are blue crabs. These ornery little crustaceans are plentiful in our waters, easy to catch and quite to the delicacy. Try this recipe, by way of Chef Justin Timineri, for Florida blue crab fritters, and that fish fry will never be the same.

Blue Crab Fritters

Serves 6

• ½ cup self-rising cornmeal
• ½ cup self-rising flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 medium onion, minced
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, minced
• 1 tsp. hot sauce
• ½ tsp. seafood seasoning
• 1 egg
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pound blue crab lump meat
• Canola oil for frying

Method:

1. In a large bowl, stir together the dry ingredients; add the milk and egg, mixing until smooth.
2. Fold in the crab.
3. Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan or deep fryer to 375 degrees F.
4. Drop tablespoonfuls of the batter into the hot oil.
5. Fry 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown, turning once if needed.
6. Drain on paper towels.
7. Serve hot.

For more Florida seafood recipes, click here.

The official Chef of Florida, Justin Timineri, shares some of his recipes with us. A proponent of eating healthy, locally-grown and harvested produce and seafood, Timineri’s recipes imbue that Fresh From Florida flavor. For more on chef Justin, click here.

   Recipes and images courtesy of Chef Justin Timineri and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. For more recipes coming from Timineri’s kitchen, click here.