A couple of weeks ago I tried crab for the first time and I really enjoyed it. On the weekend I picked up some more frozen cooked king crab that was still in the shell. I wanted to have the crab in a dish that would not over power the crab flavour and texture. I decided to go with a crab quesadilla where the crab is marinated in a simple and yet tasty marinade. The fresh lime, jalapeno pepper, green onion and cilantro makes this dish fresh and tasty. Since the crab is just warmed and cut into bite sized pieces you get to bite into the crab and really taste it. It was quite enjoyable! The warm crispy tortilla and the melted cheese put it over the top. You can serve the crab quesadillas with salsa, sour cream, avacado, etc.
Crab Quesadillas
Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 50 minutes Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes Servings: 2
ingredients
- 1/4 pound crab meat (thawed)
- 1 lime (juice and zest)
- 1 jalapeno (chopped)
- 1 green onion (chopped)
- 1 handful cilantro (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon cumin (toasted and ground)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 flour tortillas
- a touch of butter (or oil)
- 1/2 cup monterey jack cheese (grated)
directions
- Cook the crab in boiling water for about 3 minutes.
- Rinse the crab in cold water to stop the cooking.
- Remove the shell from the crab meat and cut it into bite sized pieces.
- Mix the lime juice, zest, jalapeno, green onion, cilantro cumin, salt and pepper in a bowl.
- Add the crab and marinate for 10-30 minutes.
- Melt the butter (or oil) in a pan.
- Place a tortilla in the pan and rub it around in the butter to coat.
- Heat the tortilla until air pockets form in it flipping a few times.
- Repeat 5-7 for the second tortilla and leave it in the pan.
- Drain the liquid from the crab and place the mixture on the tortilla in the pan.
- Place the cheese on and then top with the other tortilla.
- Cook the quesadilla until golden brown on both sides and the cheese is melted flipping once.
Tip: Place a plate onto the quesadilla and flipped it from the pan to the plate and then slide it back into the pan to flip the quesadilla.
Similar Recipes:
Shrimp Quesadillas
Maryland Crab Cakes
Crab Summer Rolls with Cashew Butter Dipping Sauce
Fried Green Tomatoes with Crab Remoulade
Crab Mac and Cheese
Shrimp Quesadillas
Maryland Crab Cakes
Crab Summer Rolls with Cashew Butter Dipping Sauce
Fried Green Tomatoes with Crab Remoulade
Crab Mac and Cheese
Take a look at the Weekend Herb Blogging roundup at Swirling Notions.
How did you survive all these years without having tasted crab?? 😉 I just got back from Singapore having stuffed myself with black peppercrab and steamed crab (with ginger and rice wine). I’ll take crab in any form, but there’s nothing like eating crab off the shell. There’s no dignified way to eat ‘proper’ crab though, heh. This recipe sounds lovely btw. I’ve got this and the shrimp quesadillas in a queue of things to cook.
Kevin, if I know your blogging ways, you’re going to post crab recipes 101 times and I’ll love each one!
This actually reminded me of lobster roll! It’s the generous serving of crab 🙂
Awesome! Crab is one of my favorite “meats.” I hope you get to taste a fresh one soon.
You’ve been tagged over at my house…please try to contain your excitement.
I love your blog! What gorgeous photos and interesting recipes. This crab quesadilla looks amazing!!!! But, nothing can be better than just king crab dipped in garlic butter and a touch of lemon juice:)
Did I read that correctly, crab for the first time??? well better late than never and i’m so happy for you that you did because those crab quesadillas sound fantastic!
Can I just come over for dinner? Better yet, do you deliver?
you can do anything with a quesadilla! i love it!
yumyumyum! I’m crab crazy!
ok, just crazy.
but I love crab
Hey Kevin,
After you posted the crab dip, I did check out the local fish market and found that they do sell frozen crab meat, but now you tell me that you bought frozen crab meat in the shell! I hope that I can find those. I am sure that they will taste even better. Of course the real things will be best, but it’s so expensive here.
Have a nice weekend!
Nora
i love crab! this looks wonderful! your photo looks great – what kind of lighting are you using?
Glad you’ve finally experienced the joy that is crab! Those quesadillas look so bright, I want some!
Kevin, this sounds really yummy! I think I might try it with some shrimp (crab is so expensive here).
Living in Florida, I forget that seafood isn’t as abundant in other places as it is here. I’m glad you got to experience crab. It’s wonderful, isn’t it? Your quesadillas look so fresh and vibrant. Great job!
Kevin, I can’t believe you just tried crab! Isn’t it wonderful? These quesadillas look fab.
My mouth is watering just looking at the picture! I hope to give this one a try sometime soon as it looks like a great weeknight meal.
Jaime: I just picked up a lowel ego light (and used it for this photo). So far I am liking it.
oh crab!!! my favorite…I should not visit this blog late at night…might have to cook something…or perhaps I will jsut draw more Yummy Sketches…
Hi Kevin, my first time around. Crab cakes, in my family is Friday night food. This looks very good. I also like the pork dish.
Love quesadillas. Love crab. Love how you marinate the crab for the quesadillas. Brilliant!
I would order this if I saw it in a restaurant, Your photo and ecipe is amazing!!
What a glorious dish!!! I must admit, I love it but have never really cooked any crab. Now that I’m living so close to where it’s caught…I really have no excuses. Thanks for shaing the impetus!
Sounds very tasty, and I agree, the lighting in the photo looks great. Here we can get frozen crab in the shell at Costco, and it’s delicious but fairly pricy. Great for a splurge though!
your blog is great for the variety of dishes you have.
this quesadilla sounds perfect for a casual supper.
All crab fans should see this crab invasion videos. Rather interesting.
OMG! These were amazing. I made them yesterday and I’m making them again for lunch today. These might just become my new addiction!
Hey, I made these and they tasted great. I think crab might actually be the best thing ever