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Crab Shala Recipe

Crab Shala Recipe

Transport your taste buds to Tampa Bay with this authentic Crab Shala Recipe! Fresh blue crabs simmer in a spicy garlic-tomato sauce creating messy-good seafood perfection.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course  Main Dish
Cuisine Southern Seafood
Servings 4
Calories 380 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 lbs fresh live blue crabs
  • 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 8 oz can tomato paste
  • 1 large yellow onion chopped
  • 6 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp Old Bay seasoning
  • 1 Tbsp Cajun seasoning
  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp celery seed
  • 1 cup cheap beer Bud Light perfect
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley chopped (garnish)

Instructions
 

Prep Crabs Humanely

  • Keep live crabs cold in ice chest until cooking water boils.

Heat Olive Oil

  • Warm olive oil in large stockpot over medium-high heat.

Sauté Onion Golden

  • Add chopped onion. Cook 5 minutes until soft and golden.

Add Garlic Fragrant

  • Stir in minced garlic. Cook 1 minute until beautifully aromatic.

Build Tomato Base

  • Add crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Stir until smooth.

Season Sauce Perfectly

  • Add Old Bay, Cajun seasoning, red pepper, celery seed. Mix well.

Deglaze with Beer

  • Pour in beer, add bay leaves. Bring mixture to rolling boil.

Add Live Crabs

  • Place live crabs directly into boiling sauce. Stir to submerge.

Cover Tightly Steam

  • Cover pot completely. Cook 20-25 minutes until bright orange-red.

Check Crab Doneness

  • Shells turn vivid orange, meat pulls easily from shells.

Drain to Newspaper

  • Dump crabs onto newspaper-covered table using colander.

Reserve Dipping Sauce

  • Strain sauce into bowls for dipping. Discard bay leaves.

Garnish Beautifully

  • Sprinkle chopped parsley over steaming crab pile.

Serve Immediately

  • Distribute mallets, bibs, plenty napkins. Dig in family-style!

Notes

  • Live crabs essential for freshest sweet meat flavor everyone craves.
  • Newspaper protects tables from inevitable tomato-stained crab massacre.
  • Cheap beer perfect since alcohol completely cooks off during boiling.
  • Andouille sausage addition creates Cajun carnival meat-lover's delight.
  • Large shrimp mix-in works beautifully alongside blue crab stars.
  • Double sauce recipe ensures ample dipping for bread sopping.
  • Jalapeño addition elevates heat for spice-loving seafood warriors.
Keyword Crab Shala Recipe