These Crispy Fried Crab Stick Bites are made with imitation crabmeat making them a very inexpensive snack or party appetizer! They are dipped in a tempura batter, lightly fried and then seasoned with Old Bay seasoning. I like to serve them with a creamy tarter sauce for dipping.
These fried crab sticks are made from imitation crab or "krab" meat also known as surimi. If you've never purchased imitation crab meat before, you should try it! It is a delicious way to get you crab fix in for about one fourth the cost of real crab meat. It's my go-to secret when entertaining on a budget!
If you love imitation crab meat, try my EASY Crab Avocado Ceviche (w/ Real or Imitation Krab) and Healthy Imitation Crab Meat Salad.
A Little Bit About Crab Sticks
Imitation crab meat is fake crab meat, hence the name 'imitation'. It was originated in Japan years ago. It is made from surimi, a fish paste made of starch and finely pulverized white fish. It is made to resemble the meat inside crab legs and tastes similar to real crab meat.
They are also known as krab sticks, ocean sticks and sea legs.
It is super cheap which is why I use them in some recipes like my Healthy Imitation Crab Meat Salad.
So when it comes to parties and serving a crowd, this is my go-to since crab meat is SO expensive! It is a tasty, inexpensive alternative! I bet your guests will not even know they're eating imitation crab!
Here is a good article that goes into further detail about what imitation crab meat really is.
Ingredient Tips
This recipe is so easy, all you need is 3 ingredients!
- Imitation Crab Sticks- Imitation crab sticks are easy to find in any grocery store. Look near the real crab or fish in the seafood section.
- Old Bay Seasoning- Old Bay is a staple when it comes to crabs. You can make your own Old Bay if you don't have any on hand or use another spice blend you prefer.
- Tempura Batter- Kikkoman has a box of tempura batter that you literally just add water to. It comes out perfect every time. You can also find this in the seafood section. OR try making your own!
Steps
Imitation crab comes in three different varieties. Shredded, chopped and in STICKS. For this recipe, I like to use crab sticks since they're easy to cut into bite-sized pieces.
Steps:
Step 1: Add oil like vegetable or canola into a small pot and heat to 375° F.
Step 2: Cut your crab sticks into 4 pieces each.
Step 3: Toss them into your tempura batter and coat thoroughly being careful not to break your sticks.
Step 4: Use a fork or toothpick to pick up each piece of crab allowing excess batter to drain.
Step 5: Add about 6-10 pieces at a time to your hot oil. You will need to fry in 2-3 batches. Make sure your pieces don't touch each other or they will stick.
Step 6: Drain fried crab stick bites on paper towels or wire rack and season with Old Bay seasoning.
Step 7: Serve with tarter sauce or sauce of choice.
The Tempura Batter
Tempura batter yields in a super light and crispy exterior which makes it perfect for crab!
You have two options for tempura batter.
- Make your own! Homemade tempura batter isn't hard to do and just requires some flour, egg and ice water. Here is a homemade batter recipe.
- Use boxed tempura batter! I love Kikkoman's boxed tempura batter. It keeps in the pantry for a long time and all you need to do is add water! You can find it near the seafood in your grocery store.
When it comes to entertaining, I don't like to make things more stressful so in case my tempura batter doesn't turn out right, I won't be stuck without an appetizer.
Expert Tips
- If your batter is too thin, add more mix. If it's too thick, add more water. Ideally you want pancake batter consistency.
- Using ICE water. Add ice to a cup of water and let it sit for a bit to get nice and cold. Then strain the ice and add your water.
- Use an oil thermometer to make sure your oil is nice and hot. You don't need to cook the crab so we want just need to batter to brown.
- Season right away with Old Bay so the seasoning sticks to your bites.
Make Them In Advance
You can fry your crab sticks hours before company arrives and then store them in a sealed Tupperware container when they have fully cooled. If you put them in the fridge or in a container when they're still hot, they will get soggy quickly.
Then, when company is near, toss them in the oven (or air fryer) at 400º F until they crisp back up. This shouldn't take too long.
I do not recommend freezing these.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes the taste is very similar to real crab even though a good portion of it is made with artificial ingredients. The texture is a bit more firm then most crab is and the color is brighter.
Imitation crab meat is not 100% natural so I wouldn't consider it "healthy". I like to serve this once or twice during the summer as an inexpensive alternative to costly crabmeat when I have a lot of guests to serve. Everything in moderation! 🙂
Yes, they are fully cooked and ready to eat out of the package.
Here are some other summer appetizers you may like:
Hot Crab & Artichoke Dip with Cream Cheese
Healthy Imitation Crab Meat Salad
Tempura Shrimp Stuffed Endive Leaves (with sweet chili sauce)
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Crispy Fried Crab Stick Bites (Tempura Battered Imitation Crab)
Ingredients
- 14 oz. Imitation Crab Sticks
- 1 Cup Tempura Mix
- ¾ Cup Ice Water
- 1½ Tsp. Old Bay Seasoning
- Oil for frying
- Tarter Sauce For Dipping
- 1 Lemon (Optional)
Instructions
- Add 2-3 inches of oil to a large pot and heat to 375° F. (use an oil thermometer)
- In a large bowl, add your water and tempura mix. Whisk until you get a pancake batter consistency. If it is too thick to dip your crab sticks in, add a touch more water.
- Cut your crab sticks into 4 pieces.
- Add your crab bites to the tempura batter and one by one, add to hot oil using a toothpick, fork or tongs. (whichever is easier and less messy) You want to use something that allows the excess batter to drip off before adding it to your oil!*Do not crowd your pot with too many at once because the cold batter will bring down the temperature of your oil and your bites will be saturated with oil instead of light and airy. Wait until the oil comes back to temperature before adding next batch.
- Drain crab bites on paper towels and sprinkle with more old bay. Continue until all your crab is fried. Serve warm with tarter sauce and lemon wedges on the side!
These tempura bites are light and tasty and very easy to make! I will be making these for my next get together because you can make them ahead of time. You can't have enough easy, tasty appetizer recipes!
Thank you!
Just added your pin for this recipe to my Awesome Summer Appetizers Pinterest Board. Bill from Seasonalcookbook.com
These look absolutely PERFECT! I love imitation crab and tempura so this is like a slam dunk for me! Can't wait to try.
These fried crab stick bites are such a great easy appetizer idea! I absolutely love tempura, so this recipe is right up my alley! I especially love your tips for how to make these ahead of time - thanks for sharing!
I only had imitation crab sticks in a Cajun soup. Frying these bites in tempura batter is an excellent idea. I'm sure this appetizer is first to go at any party!