Crab night out, anyone?
Published:Saturday | September 25, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Heather Little-White, Contributor
Have you tried crab hunting in any of the swampy mangroves around the island? If you are a crab lover and a person of adventure, this is a never-to-be-missed activity.
I remember my crab-hunting days in Negril. When one went out into the night with one's 'bottle torch', one had to be fully clothed to keep away those pesky mosquitoes. Sneakers were a must for the sandy and sometimes swampy areas in which you had to run behind those crustaceans before they returned to their crab holes.
Stress reliever
Crab hunting is an international activity which offers an alternative way to unwind. Tourists enjoy it for its unusual thrill of catching these creatures, cooking and eating them. In Dubai, for example, you are picked up from your hotel late afternoon and, after an hour's journey, you arrive at a resort hotel in the emirate of Umm Al Quwain where snacks and soft drinks are served.
At dusk, you are transferred to a boat and engage in crab hunting for one and half hour near the Mangrove Islands with professional help and adequate supply of relevant equipment required for crab hunting. After disembarking the boat, the excitement extends to eating where you are served a buffet dinner consisting of continental menu items and catch-of-the-day crab dish. You then return to your hotel for a good night's sleep.
It is also fun in Delray Beach in Florida, as it is in Jamaica, probably with a little less sophistication which makes it unforgettable.
History
For centuries, Native Americans living on the Delmarva Peninsula enjoyed the bounty provided by these hardy crustaceans, along with many other delicious creatures of the bays. 'Chesapeake' is a Susquehanock word, meaning 'great shellfish bay'.
Undoubtedly, native peoples led European settlers to some of the best places to catch crabs which can live in both shallow and deep-sea water. Early treaties always included provisions for the rights of Native Americans for 'hunting, crabbing, fowling, and fishing'. Since the mid-1800s, Maryland blue crabs have become popular and are caught commercially in the Chesapeake Bay area.
Religious ban
Since crabs eat other animals like fish, clams, squid, other crabs, worms, sails and eggs from fish or crabs, some religions consider them unclean. They are guided by the Old Covenant rules and regulations such as tithing, Sabbath observance, and Jewish food laws. Therefore, they do not eat pork, lobster, or crab, and so on, because this was forbidden to the Jews.
NUTRITIVE VALUE
Crabmeat is high in protein and can provide essential vitamins and minerals. Contrary to popular belief, crabs are not high in fat and crabmeat has a moderate source of omega-3 fatty acids. Crabmeat has cholesterol but is low in saturated fat.
Export business
There are more than 4,400 varieties of crabs, but some have become more popular and eaten all over the world.
Crab is an essential feature of social events and in the United States. Every year on the Labour Day weekend, there is a National Hard Crab Derby with crab races, a boat parade, a beauty pageant, as well as cooking and picking contests. It is established that any politician who wants votes from residents of Lower Shore must attend this event.
Soft-shelled
The structure of the crab allows for its classification. The crab's skeleton is on the outside so, in order to grow, it must shed its old shell. A crab is classified as soft-shelled one to three months after shedding the shell. After shedding its shell, the crab swallows water and expands its body mass and a new shell is formed over the larger mass into which the crab grows. For the first two years of a crab's life, its shell will be shed several times a year. After three years, the adult crab will shed its shell only once per year.
Types of crabs
- Dungness crab is known for its succulent, sweet meat. The dungeness crab is native to the Pacific Northwest and may be found all the way from Alaska to Mexico. This is a large crab ranging from one to four pounds. Interestingly, only the males are harvested, to prevent overharvesting of the species.
- The Alaskan king crab is the king of all crabs and may weigh from 10-15lb, measuring up to 10 feet from claw to claw. The meat of the king crab is snowy white with bright red edges.
- The blue or soft-shell crab is known for its blue claws and oval, dark blue-green shell, found in the Gulf and East Coast of the United States. Blue crabs range from three and half to five and a half inches, and turn red on cooking.
- Stone crabs, abundant in Florida, are known for the large claws. Fishermen will take off stone crab claws and toss them back into the sea. The claws are such a great source of meat that this practice is profitable, and the crab regrows its claw within 18 months after it is removed. The meat of the stone crab is firm, with a sweet, succulent flavour.
- Mangrove crabs, or mud crabs, which live in mangrove swamps, are some people's preference. In Asia, people enjoy eating mud or mangrove crab, a species across Asia and in parts of Australia.
- Horse crab dates back to more than 200 million years and is literally a living fossil. It is one of the most heavily harvested crab species in the world. Further west, people consume flower crab, which is found in the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean, and in parts of Africa. This species has a naturally sweet, flavourful flesh, which some people find quite enjoyable.
- Snow or spider crabs, rock or queen crabs, are in abundance in the North Pacific and North Atlantic waters.
Availability
Crabmeat is available all year as raw, frozen cooked and canned. Live crabs must be cooked and refrigerated on the day they are caught. Cooked crabmeat can be vacuum-packed into airtight containers and covered with a light brine, leaving a half-inch head space in the container. Thawed cooked crab must be used within 24 hours of its removal from refrigeration.
Crabs and astrology
The Latin for crab is cancer, a star constellation in the shape of a crab. It is named for one sent by Hydra to attack Heracles of Greco-Roman mythology. It can be seen in the night sky between the Gemini and Hydra constellations and its brightest star is Beta Cancri.
Great outdoors
Steamed crabs are probably best eaten outdoors as they can be quite messy prepared this way. Have a trash can nearby and pile crabs in a large bowl or place on a large tray.
Select a Crab
Take out a heavy crab, steaming hot from the boiling pot. If you do not have a crab knife, a steak knife will do. Mallets are helpful in cracking the claws. Also, be sure to have lots of beer and/or soda on hand.
Pinchers off
Pull the big pincher claws off the crab and save for later. Pull the hind legs (the back fin) off with a twisting motion. Sometimes some meat will come out with it.
Other Legs
Some folks will snap open the legs for a small bite of meat but oftentimes it is not worth it, as there is very little meat in the small legs. Throw them out instead of wasting time.
Remove The Apron
Turn the crab over so you're looking at the bottom. Insert the tip of your knife into the apron. Pull it up and back to detach the top shell.
Remove the Top Shell
Turn the crab over again, right side up. Now you can take off the top shell and discard it.
Eating The CrabMeat
Having removed the pinchers and the legs, take the remaining crab in your hands. Snap it in two and you will salivate at the crabmeat you find. Use your knife to peel the shell away from the meat or, using your knife, slice each half in half again lengthwise. Use your knife to pick the meat from the shells.
Eating The Claws
Remember the pincher claws you set aside earlier. Use your knife and mallet to crack them open. When you break the shell of the claws, pull the exposed meat out with your fingers. Ignore the elbow, as it may be difficult to negotiate.
Clean Up
Discard the shells and paper towels and tie up the garbage bag carefully. Hose down the table and the general area, disinfecting as needed to keep away flies.
Beating the blues
When you are feeling crabby, you should go out and treat yourself to a delicious crab meal. What's the best cure for being crabby? Enjoy a good old-fashioned, home-made crab feast with friends and family. Steamed crab is quite popular and is often served with drawn butter or olive oil. Crabmeat is used for crab cakes, chowders, pasta dishes, appetisers and salads.
THE ULTIMATE CRAB CAKE
Extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, finely minced
4 garlic cloves, finely minced
1 1/2lb crabmeat
2 1/2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
1 tbsp mayonnaise, plus more if needed
1 large egg white
1/2 lime, juiced
1/4 cup freshly chopped cilantro leaves, plus whole leaves, for garnish
Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Lemon wedges, for garnish
Directions
Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 5-7 minutes, until the onion is caramelised. Place
To cook, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the crab cakes and cook for about 4 minutes, each side, until nice and crisp. Serve with fresh lemon wedges.
Serves 6
Source: Food Network.com
References : www.wisegeek.com /www.timeoutdubai.com/skipjack.net/le_shore/crab/history.htm
Heather Little-White, PhD, is a nutrition and lifestyle consultant in Kingston. Send comments to saturdaylife@gleanerjm.com or fax 922-6223.
Crab facts
- Watermen are people who make their living on the waters around a primary fishing area such as the Chesapeake Bay in the United Sates.
- Crabbers are watermen who catch crabs for commercial harvesting.
- Crab book: If you want to know about crabs, you must read the definitive book on crabs by William W. Warner - 'Watermen, Crabs, and the Chesapeake Bay', which won the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-fiction in 1977.
- Swimming crabs: Crabs only swim and walk from side to side, rather than forward or backward. The Blue Crab is a member of the swimming crab family.
- Predators and scavengers: Crabs are predators and scavengers - they eat mostly live and dead fish, clams, and anything found in the sea.
- 'Cancer' is the Latin word for crab. People who study crabs are, therefore, called carcinologists, which causes a lot of confusion. Doctors treating cancer, the disease, are oncologists.