Quantity is one of the first things to consider when you are buying seafood online or in a market. If you are having a small dinner gathering, crab legs may be suitable and enough with a couple of side dishes to ensure that everyone ends the night feeling satisfied. However, if you plan to entertain a larger party, you may want to consider ordering Dungeness crab clusters. Although they do not differ greatly from traditional crab legs, they offer more meat options for avid seafood lovers.
What Are Dungeness Crab Clusters?
Like crab legs, crab clusters include the legs of the crab. However, crab clusters also typically include some of the meat from the crab’s body, such as the shoulder. These clusters are also commonly referred to as sections. When shopping on Amazon, you are able to order 2-pound clusters of Northwest Dungeness crab. These clusters cost $78.99 and are pre-cooked and clean so that the customer can easily thaw and serve them upon arrival. There are about 1-2 clusters per pound.
Buying Dungeness crab clusters is not too different than buying Dungeness crab legs. The company Wholey finds that with crab clusters in general, a typical order ranges from a half pound of crab clusters to as much as 2 pounds. It all depends on the individual’s appetite.
When it comes time for the preparation, you first need to let the crab clusters thaw. Then, break apart the crab leg clusters and remove each leg by twisting it at the joint. From there, there are a number of ways to prepare Dungeness crab. They can be warmed up over a grill or lightly steamed. Steaming is considered the easiest method and also the fastest. When steaming the crab, you should let it cook for seven to eight minutes per pound. Dungeness crab is popular in salads, bisque, dips and cakes.
Best Recipes for Dungeness Crab Clusters
There are a number of recipes that you can experiment with when preparing Dungeness crab. One recipe is Steamed Dungeness Crab with Herbed Butter. The dish serves two people and the total preparation and cooking time is 15 minutes. For ingredients, you will need two clusters of Dungeness crab, 1 cup of water, 1/2 cup of white wine, 2 lemons quartered, 3 tablespoons of fresh basil or tarragon minced, 2 teaspoons of Old Bay seasoning, 1 stick of butter, and salt and pepper.
If you are looking for a more experimental dish, try making Brazilian Dungeness Crab Stew. It serves two and will take you about 45 minutes. The core ingredients include two Dungeness crab clusters, 1 (14-ounce) can of full-fat coconut milk, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 medium yellow onion, and 1 medium leek.
Before you attempt any new recipes, make sure to give your crab enough time to thaw before you try to crack into it. Either submerge it in cold water for an hour or give the crab 24 hours to thaw in your refrigerator.
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