Have you ever tried a California roll? If so, you’ll notice that in this delicious type of Westernized sushi, one of the ingredients that stand out is the orange-and-white seafood stick.
This is imitation crab meat, and it’s an ingredient that you should check out if you haven’t yet! Widely popular in lots of fusion Japanese dishes, they’re extremely versatile, not to mention affordable and easy to prepare.
In this article, let me show you a few ways on how to cook imitation crab meat, as well as the tools you’ll need that will let you easily whip up delicious dishes in no time.
What Is Imitation Crab Meat Made Of?
Imitation crab meat has a lot of different nicknames. Also referred to as “krab sticks,” ocean sticks, or seafood sticks, this is a type of processed seafood that originated in Japan in the 1970s.
As the description suggests, it is not actually made of crab. It’s rather composed of starch and pulverized fish—the Japanese call this “surimi” a type of paste or ground meat that’s used to mimic the texture of the crab or other shellfish.
It’s possible to consume imitation crab meat straight out of the pack, but where’s the fun in that? If you have time to cook, this versatile ingredient can go places! To get you started, here are some of the basic cooking methods that you must take note of.
Frying
Let’s have a look at some tools that you’ll need for perfect brown fry.
Non-Stick Frying Pan
Cooking Oil
Three Basic Ingredients: Egg, Flour, and Bread Crumbs
Prepare The Ingredients
Then, place each of the three ingredients in individual containers: one bowl for the beaten egg (this will serve as your egg wash), one plate for the flour, and one plate for the bread crumbs. Set aside.
Steaming
If you’re not a fan of frying, or if you would like to make more guilt-free dishes, then this one is for you! The imitation crab meat steams beautifully, and here is how to do it.
Things You’ll need
Steamer
You have two main choices: an electric steamer and a bamboo steamer. You can get the former from any appliance store, and the latter in most Asian supermarkets or kitchen supply stores.
Pot
Check For Doneness.
Pro Tips
Avoid Spoilage! Only Get What You Need From The Pack.
Add Texture By Frying One Side Of The Stick.
Eat It As You Would The Real Thing.
Remember that these sticks mimic actual crabs, so why not eat it as you would the real thing? Simply squeeze some lemon on it and have it with some delicate butter sauce! Not as lavish as the real thing, but hey, not bad either!
If you want to know more about imitation crab watch this:
There You Have It!
That’s it! A few sure-fire ways on how to make and enjoy imitation crab meat, as well as all the basic things that will help you easily get started. The flexibility is simply inspiring—and using these methods myself; I continue to find new and exciting recipes. If this is your first time cooking with these sticks, good luck!
I hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as I enjoyed writing it! Let me know what you think in the comments below! Recipe ideas are more than welcome as well.
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