When it comes to seafood delicacies, crab claws are a true delight. With their succulent, tender meat, they deserve to be complemented with sides that enhance their flavor and create a perfectly balanced and unforgettable meal. So, What To Serve With Stone Crab Claws, you ask? Keep reading for all the delicious details!
Over the years I've found that building a full dinner menu around stone crab claws, Jonah crab claws, brown crab claws or any of my favorite crab recipes presents unique challenges and opportunities. Because crab is a mild-flavored seafood, I want it to stay in the spotlight. So how do we choose side dishes that highlight and complement crab claws while allowing the delicate flavor to shine?
Here are 16 of my favorite side dishes worthy of sharing a table with crab.
French Fries
If you've ever enjoyed crab at a seafood shack along the East coast, you already know that French fries are a great side dish for simple chilled crab. And if you really want to take your lobster meal over the top, go for Parmesan Truffle French Fries. I find that fries are a great match for coleslaw, if that's on the menu. Keep reading for my favorite savory slaw recipe below.
Napa Cabbage Slaw
For a simple crab claw dinner, I love serving a savory cabbage coleslaw. If you're looking for a coleslaw side for your seafood meal, this savory napa slaw is the perfect side dish to add crunchy cabbage, tomatoes, radish and bell pepper to your fish main dish. The lemon juice in this colorful and light side dish adds a beautiful balance to your menu. This savory slaw is a pretty healthy option and it's especially complementary to a baked potato or French fries, if they're on the menu!
Lemon Garlic Green Beans
Green beans are one of the most popular (and low carb) side dishes to serve with fresh seafood. The garlic, lemon and parmesan cheese in this green bean recipe add beautiful richness to this classic side dish and the toasted almonds top the whole thing off with a rich, nutty flavor. They are buttery and herbaceous and all the best things you look for in a memorable vegetable dish to go with your crab dinner.
Fresh Corn on the Cob
If you spent much of your time in the Midwest, like me, you know that fresh corn is the best part of summer. Corn on the cob is a good option when serving a picnic-style crab claw. Bring them to the table with a stick of butter and watch the crowd go wild. And if you have any leftover corn, use them in Mexican Street Corn Casserole tomorrow!
Gazpacho Salad
Gazpacho is the taste of summer in Southern Europe. And for me, cucumber gazpacho salad is the best way to bring that cool, refreshing flavor of the famous Spanish chilled soup in a crunchy salad - no immersion blender required! The fresh basil leaves, sweet bell peppers and pumpkin seeds all add the perfect balancing flavors and crunch, making it a great light side for a healthy and colorful crab dinner.
Grilled Asparagus
Marinated and grilled asparagus is a simple and elegant side dish that pairs well with so many crab-themed dishes. To make this easy recipe, marinate the spears in a simple vinaigrette, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and grill them over medium-high heat until they are tender-crisp and charred. Top with the rest of the vinaigrette and a warm egg. This grilled asparagus recipe is a delicious and healthy side dish and the perfect answer to what to serve with stone crab claws.
Lemon Dill Basmati Rice
If Mediterranean flavor combinations like lemon and dill make you happy, this delicious side dish is your ticket to bliss. Lemon Dill Rice is an easy recipe with gorgeous flavors and presentation – ideal for a crab claw dinner party, date night at home or an easy weeknight meal. This is the perfect way to show off the delicate flavor of crab with a memorable and tasty side dish.
Baked Potato
A crispy-skinned baked potato with sea salt and black pepper is one of the best sides you can add to your crab dinner. It's a humble dish, but it always hits the spot. Top with butter and sour cream and the rich and fluffy potato will be the perfect combination with your buttery crab meat. If you're in a hurry, roasted new potatoes give you great baked potato flavor in a fraction of the time.
Creamy Parmesan Rice
Like luscious risotto without all the fuss and stirring, this creamy parmesan rice with lemon and parsley is the perfect side to all of your best crab recipes. It’s a great addition to your chilled crab claw dinner and (bonus!) it makes delicious leftovers, as well.
Perfect Pasta Salad
This Persian-inspired Pasta Salad Recipe is fresh and delicious, with texture and umami to spare. Stud the salad with feta, walnuts and loads of fresh herbs. And the lemon pasta dressing makes this the loveliest side dish for your crab claw recipe. Perfect anytime of year, this is the pasta salad that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
French Au Gratin Potatoes
Garlic, shallots, heavy cream and cheese. Really, what else do you need in life? To complete a memorable crab claw meal, you need nothing else. Au Gratin Potatoes are one of the great side dishes for holidays and special occasions. Which makes them the perfect accompaniment for your crab claw dinner party.
Mediterranean Tossed Salad
Any fresh salad will add balanced freshness to a seafood main course. But this Tossed Salad adds a little something extra. It's a great choice if you're looking for an all-in-one veggie side with leafy greens, tomato, pickled veggies, garbanzo beans, parmesan and pumpkin seeds. It's my every-day salad full of all my favorite fresh vegetables and it is a delicious side dish for seafood.
Garlic Bread Baguette
French baguettes are one of life's true joys. Add some salted garlic butter, fresh herbs, lemon zest and Parmesan to your crusty bread, and your dinner turns into a real party. Grab this Garlic Baguette Recipe and take your crab claw side dish game to the next level.
Caesar Salad
Caesar salad is a simple and sophisticated side dish option for your crab claw dinner. Crunchy romaine lettuce, crispy croutons, salty parmesan and homemade croutons make the perfect pairing with lobster. If you have leftover crab claws from your party, chop up cold crab meat and add it to the top of a homemade Mexican Caesar Salad for a real treat.
Creamy Mustard Sauce
Around the Gulf of Mexico, you'll get your Florida stone crab claws served chilled, over a bed of ice. And you can bet you'll find a creamy mustard sauce on the side - the perfect dipping condiment for the sweet-salty crab meat inside those hard shells. Dijon mustard and mayo from the basis of this sauce, along with a few secret ingredients and fresh lemon juice. If you're wondering what to serve with stone crab claws, this recipe has to be on your list! One bite and you'll be transported to South Florida with the wind in your hair and the sweet taste of stone crabs on your lips.
Spicy Aioli
While melted butter is the traditional dipping sauce for sweet crab meat, there's plenty of room for more flavorful options. One of my all time favorite dipping sauces for seafood is this spicy aioli sauce. It is customizable to your family's spice preference, but brings delicious flavor and a creamy heat to any seafood dinner, lunch, brunch or snack.
Crab claws are such a delicious and luxurious seafood and they can be paired with a range of side dishes. I would love to hear your favorite sides for crab claws! Comment below or send me your thoughts at [email protected].
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