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These healthy crab fries are made with baked fries, and are loaded with crab meat, a little cheese, and a garlic yogurt sauce.
Alright guys– let’s talk crab.
Crab fries, to be precise.
As someone who did not grow up in “crabbing country,” I’d never heard of them before.
For a few precious moments, I thought I’d come up with a unique, delicious idea– and then I realized that no, my idea was NOT unique, and crab fries are in fact, already “a thing.”
Pretty quickly, though, I also realized that it didn’t matter if I wasn’t the first one to invent crab fries, because they ARE delicious, and the world NEEDS more of them!
NEEDS THEM!
You hear?!
If you’re already a fan of crab fries, this lighter version is the perfect way for you to eat EVEN MORE crab fries!
And if you, like me, are new to the world of crab fries– go ahead and get excited!
These tasty fries are loaded with Dungeness crab meat, a creamy yogurt sauce, and yes– yes, a little cheese.
Want more CRAB recipe ideas? Try these: King Crab Louie Salad, Dungeness Crab Eggs Benedict, King Crab Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing
What Kind of Crab Should I Buy for Crab Fries?
To make these fries, you need (obviously) to get some crab meat.
I recommend fresh or frozen Dungeness crab for these, even though it’s a little bit of work to get the crab legs out of the shell.
If Dungeness crab isn’t an option, you can sub other fresh or frozen crab meat.
Blue crab meat would be a great alternative.
Need Help STEAMING + SHELLING the crab? Check out this dungeness crab recipe where I explain how to do it in detail with photos!
Can I Use Canned Crab Meat?
Yes, definitely!
But– If you have to go with canned crab meat, try to avoid any $1 canned crab meat– you get what you pay for!
Look for cans that label the type of crab used, or cans marked lump crab meat.
Want more canned fish tips? Check out this Ultimate Guide to Canned Fish.
How to Get Crispy Baked Fries
Have you tried baking your french fries before?
I make baked sweet potato fries on a pretty regular basis (because they’re AMAZING), but I was a little intimidated by all of the advice I’d read on baking regular, plain ol’ French fries.
Some people say, “Soak them in cold water!” and others, “Soak them in hot water!”
Well you know what that makes?
SOGGY FRIES.
Especially if you use Russet (or Idaho) potatoes, because those will absorb a lot of the water.
Simply cut your potatoes into long, thin slices, and then roast them on a baking sheet with olive oil and a little seasoning.
Voila’— crispy baked fries!
Can I Swap Regular Fried Fries for the Baked Ones?
Of course you can. If you happen to have a deep fryer at home, feel free to make your fries however you want.
If you bought pre-cut frozen fries– you can use those too.
Just don’t forget to sprinkle the Old Bay seasoning on your fries– either after you fry them, or before you bake them.
Making Healthy Crab Fries
This is the fun part– turning the fries into magic Healthy Crab Fries! Take your fries (whether you’ve baked them or deep fried them), and grate some fresh cheese over the top.
Then, broil them until the cheese melts.
Finally, add the crab meat on top of the cheese, drizzle some of the easy yogurt sauce on top, and finish everything off with some fresh chives.
Go ahead and dig in right away!
And then go tell all your friends to MAKE CRAB FRIES!
Want more GAME DAY + TAPAS recipe ideas? Try these: Mini Shrimp Tacos with Pineapple, Cajun Shrimp + Grits Appetizer, Shrimp Cocktail
Want more seafood appetizers? Try this seafood dip from Girl Heart Food!
Crab Fries
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Ingredients
Crab Fries:
- 6 oz Dungeness crab legs (~3 crab legs), steamed and removed from shell
- 2 large Russet (baking) potatoes
- 1 TB olive oil
- 2 tsp Old Bay seasoning
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 oz fresh mozzarella (use more if desired)
- 2 oz queso fresco (use more if desired)
- ¼ cup fresh chives, diced (or substitute green onion)
Garlic Yogurt Sauce:
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 2 garlic cloves, finely diced
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp Old Bay seasoning
- juice from ½ lemon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- Cut the potatoes into long slices, about ¼" wide and deep.
- Lay the fries in a single layer on an unlined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Old Bay.
- Bake fries for 20 minutes, and then turn the fries. Bake 10-15 more minutes uncovered. (Bake time will depend on how crispy you want your fries.)
- Remove fries from the oven, and sprinkle with salt.Turn on the broiler. Grate cheese on top of fries, and broil about 2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- Remove fries from the oven, and transfer to a serving dish. Add crab meat and chives.
- Mix together all the ingredients for the yogurt sauce, and serve on the side or drizzled over the fries.
Notes
- Substitute 1 can of high-quality crab meat for the Dungeness crab legs.
- Use “fried fries” instead of baked. Add the Old Bay seasoning after you fry the potatoes.
Omgosh, why aren’t you my neighbor?! I swear we’d get along famously 🙂 Srsly, these look so amazing…and I want them served at my local restaurant here in wine country. That’s not too much to ask, it it? This dish is brilliant!
You live in wine country, I live in bourbon country.. maybe we can split the difference and do 6mo at each spot ????
Wow this looks amazing, I would end up eating myself full on these fries and have no room for dinner… that’s not so bad if I don’t make anything else though .. haha..
We ate this plate as our whole dinner ????
I have never had crab fries but I must rectify that immediately! I LOVE crab, you see and this looks so good, I could lick the screen!
The world NEEEEEDS more crab fries Beth!!
Wow…These look Amazing! Love baked fries & loaded sounds even better. Thanks for the tip on soaking them in hot water before baking. Going try that next time I make some!
I have never heard of crab fries either but I totally am drooling over these! They look so good!
Omg Sarah, I’m drooling over this recipe it looks like complete food heaven!
Oh wow! I love that topping and the Garlic yogurt sauce sounds so wonderful paired with the fries.
Crab is my absolute favorite seafood! I still say where has this delicious idea been all my life?! I can’t wait to try this out!
Crab is the best! Enjoy!!!
I am so in love with this idea!!!! I will eat this up!
These look amazing!!! I definitely need crab fries in my life! I will have to try the trick with baking the fries – I have not had great luck baking them in the past so I’d love a trick that works!
Crab fries sound like the most brilliant recipe ever. I would absolutely tear in to these and not worry about being dainty. 🙂 I love that they’re baked too, so I won’t feel guilty about consuming as many fries as possible!
Ok these will be happening! I also have not heard of crab fries, so I thought your recipe was super creative too 🙂 They sound so good, and I totally need to try them out.
Im seriously crazy about this recipe… we LOVE crab here and its such a fun way to have it an appetizer…for a happy hour! And its so unlike other ways to serve crab. I will ABSOLUTELY be making this for a Friday night cocktail party in the NEAR future!
I’ve actually never heard of crab fries either, which is kind of a bummer because I could have been enjoying it all my life if I had. These look so delicious!