Wondering what goes with stone crabs? There are lots of tasty side dishes, from classic mustard sauce to melted butter and Cuban tostones, to make your meal memorable!
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- Key West Stone Crabs
- How Many Crabs Per Person?
- Sauces For Stone Crab Claws
- Potato Sides
- Vegetable Sides
- Cuban Sides
- How To Crack Stone Crab Claws
- Cold Sides
- Seafood To Serve With Stone Crabs
- Desserts
- Crab Claws Serving Suggestions
- What To Serve with Stone Crabs?
- More Key West Recipes
- FAQ
- What Goes With Stone Crabs?
When you think of stone crabs, you probably think of Florida, and considering that Florida supplies nearly all the nation's stone crabs, you are spot on!
While Florida's waters are essential for stone crab harvesting, it's also important to know that these crabs are found elsewhere, from North Carolina down to the Gulf of America.
Stone crabs are unique because only their claws are harvested, while other species are harvested whole.
Key West Stone Crabs
Stone crab season runs from mid-October through May when the crabs are at their peak freshness and flavor.
Stone crab meat is flaky, white, and sweet. The claws are cooked immediately after harvesting, so when you buy them, there's very little work required.
Crab claws can be pricey, but their sweet flavor and tender meat are worth every penny. People come from all over the globe just to get a taste of this famous delicacy.
Joe's Stone Crab in Miami is famous for its upscale dining experience and higher prices.
In Key West, we keep it more relaxed—the claws are available at most local restaurants, often without the white tablecloth.
How Many Crabs Per Person?
Like shrimp, crab claws vary by size. Plan on purchasing one pound per person.
- Medium, 6 to 8 per pound
- Large, 4 to 5 per pound
- Jumbo, 3 per pound
- Colossal, 1 per pound
There could be a $60.00 per pound difference in price between Medium and Colossal, which makes the large claws more attractive to many people.
Sauces For Stone Crab Claws
Mustard Sauce is the classic accompaniment for stone crab claws, especially in Florida, where stone crabs are a delicacy. This creamy, tangy sauce complements the sweet, tender meat of the claws perfectly.
Seafood Cocktail Sauce, is also a good sauce to have on the table.
Melted Butter should always be near the claws.
Potato Sides
Potatoes are a great side for any seafood feast. Instead of French Fries try Roasted Baby Gold Potatoes, Roasted Tiny Red Potatoes, or Oven Roasted Russet Potatoes.
These potatoes are all available at Publix.
Vegetable Sides
Some great vegetable dishes to go with stone crab claws include Roasted Vegetables, Steamed Broccoli and Carrots, or Steamed Shrimp and Broccoli.
Cuban Sides
An alternative to potatoes, Cuban Tostones, are crispy twice-fried plantain chips. Plantains look like big green bananas. You might see them in all the grocery stores. When fried in oil, they are crispy and make a very interesting side dish.
Tostones are something a little different to put on the table as a conversation piece. And they taste great!
Other local Cuban dishes include maduros, or rice and black beans.
How To Crack Stone Crab Claws
Stone crabs have very hard shells so we have this manual "cracker" that makes cracking the shells a breeze.
You should make sure all three knuckles are gently cracked to easily access the meat.
If you plan on eating a lot of fresh stone crab claws, pick up a good cracking tool. It's worth the investment. You can usually find one wherever you buy your claws or order one on Amazon (affiliate link).
Of course, you can always use a nutcracker or lobster cracker. A wooden mallet might be available or gifted to you when you purchase your crabs.
If you don’t have a cracker, mallet, or nutcracker, place the claws on a sturdy surface. Cover them with a few sheets of plastic wrap so you can see what you're doing. Then, one by one, tap the knuckles gently with a hammer.
Cold Sides
A classic green salad with a simple vinaigrette would be a great side dish.
Try homemade Macaroni Salad, or Chickpea Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad.
Seafood To Serve With Stone Crabs
- A Key West Shrimp Cocktail and Panko Crab Cakes would be a great addition to your meal.
- For a healthy side, choose Steamed Shrimp with Broccoli.
More Sides
- Pasta like linguine with garlic, olive oil, and fresh herbs, complements stone crabs.
- Soups including conch chowder, clam chowder or lobster bisque. You can pick it up at the local fisheries.
- Chilled beverages, including cold beer, sparkling champagne or prosecco for a cold beverage.
Desserts
In the Keys we like to end every meal with a slice of Key Lime Pie. It's tradition!
Fresh Mango with Chili Lime Salt, cut-up pineapple, or sliced watermelon would be refreshing desserts for a true Keys dinner.
Crab Claws Serving Suggestions
- Wash the cooked crabs with cold water before cracking.
- To serve informally, you can put out a tray of crab claws on crushed ice with lemon wedges and a bowl of mustard dipping sauce.
- For a more formal setting, the pre-cracked claws can be plated with lemon wedges and individual bowls of mustard dipping sauce and melted butter.
- Cocktail forks would also be very helpful.
Don't forget the parsley! Learn how to use it as garnish to make your dishes sparkle.
What To Serve with Stone Crabs?
South Florida is famous for its sweet and succulent stone crab claws. Stone crab season runs from October 15 to May 1st, which is a good amount of time to enjoy this local delicacy when it's fresh.
Whether you're a longtime fan or trying them for the first time, stone crab claws are second to none. They're sweet and succulent-very sexy food!
Stone crab claws make the base of a healthy meal and they're perfect for any get together, from special occasions to casual backyard gatherings. They are traditionally served with mustard sauce.
Choose any of our sides for the perfect meal. From tangy mustard sauce (an absolute must-have) to classic Key Lime Pie, everything you need to enjoy your perfect Key dinner is right here!
More Key West Recipes
Peel and Eat Shrimp is a great appetizer you can serve for a Key West vibe.
Yellowtail snapper is a great tasting fish that is abundant here in South Florida. You can try Roasted Snapper, Pan Fried Yellowtail, or Panko Crusted Yellowtail.
Mahi Mahi is another fish that we catch in the Keys. Try Oven Roasted Mahi, Crispy Fried Mahi Mahi, and Seared Mahi with Lemon Basil Butter Sauce are all easy recipes.
- Baked Snapper with Key Lime Butter
- Pan Seared Mangrove Snapper with Mango Coleslaw
- Broiled Yellowtail Snapper with Blackened Seasoning
- Blackened Fish Tacos
- Key West Shrimp Tacos
- Tripletail with Garlic Butter Sauce
- Shrimp Salad with Mayo
FAQ
Yes, stone crabs are 100% gluten-free. They are dairy free, soy-free, and yeast-free too!
If you cook your claws or buy them right after they're steamed, you'll get three days in the fridge. As the claws age, they start to get slimy. They have an off-taste like ammonia when they are no longer edible.
Stone crab season runs from October 15th to May 15th in the state of Florida. During this time, it is legal to harvest and catch stone crabs. Harvesting stone crabs must be done by size and possession limits to ensure sustainability and the preservation of the species.
Yes, he would! Dr. Ray Peat advocated eating a moderate amount of shellfish, such as crab, shrimp, and lobster, for its high iodine and copper content. While he strongly advised against seed oils, like those in traditional mayonnaise, he would have enjoyed stone crab claws paired with melted butter and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
What Goes With Stone Crabs?
Instructions
Best Sauces For Stone Crabs
- Mustard Sauce
- Melted Butter
- Cocktail Sauce
Best Cold Sides To Go With Stone Crab Claws
- Tostones with Mayo Ketchup
- Chickpea Cucumber Feta Salad
- Sweet Coleslaw
- Macaroni Salad
Best Warm Sides To Go With Stone Crab Claws
- Corn on The Cob
- Roasted Tiny Red Potatoes
- Oven Roasted Vegetables with Garlic
- Steamed Broccoli and Carrots Recipe
- Roasted Baby Gold Potatoes
Fish and Seafood Recipes
- Florida Keys Pink Shrimp Cocktail
- Steamed Broccoli and Shrimp
- Panko Crab Cakes
- Baked Yellowtail Snapper
- Fried Mahi Mahi Fillets
- Boiled Shrimp with Potatoes and Corn on The Cob
Dessert
- Key Lime Pie
- Mango with Chili Lime Salt
Notes
The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
