Crab Du Jour Special Sauce

The Secret to Crab Du Jour's Success: Unpacking the "Crab Du Jour" Special Sauce

Crab Du Jour, the rapidly expanding Cajun seafood boil chain, has made a significant splash in the Philadelphia area with its fun, hands-on dining experience. While the fresh seafood is the main event, the true secret weapon that keeps customers coming back is its signature, crave-worthy sauce: the "Crab Du Jour" special sauce. This rich, flavorful concoction is the key to their delicious seafood boils, and the good news is, you can create a similar version right in your own kitchen.

A Fusion of Four Classic Flavors

The "Crab Du Jour" special sauce is a masterful and harmonious blend of four classic seafood boil flavors, creating a taste that is greater than the sum of its parts:

1. Garlic Butter: Provides a rich, savory, and buttery base.

2. Cajun: Adds a warm, zesty, and slightly spicy kick.

   
   
   

3. Lemon Pepper: Lends a bright, citrusy note that cuts through the richness.

4. Old Bay Seasoning: The quintessential Maryland-style seafood spice that adds a complex, savory, and iconic flavor.

   
   
   

This combination elevates any seafood boil, adding a depth of flavor and a touch of heat that is simply irresistible.

Crafting the Sauce at Home

Recreating the essence of this delicious sauce at home is surprisingly simple. Here's what you'll need and how to do it:

Key Ingredients:

• 4 sticks (2 cups) of unsalted butter

• Minced garlic (to taste, start with several cloves)

• Chopped onion (to taste, start with half a medium onion)

• All-purpose seasoning (like garlic powder, paprika)

• Cayenne pepper (for heat, adjust to your preference)

• Onion powder

• Lemon pepper seasoning

• Old Bay seasoning

Preparation:

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.

2. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic and sauté until softened and fragrant.

3. Stir in the dry seasonings: Old Bay, lemon pepper, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and any other all-purpose seasonings you like.

4. Simmer on low for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

5. Your sauce is ready to be tossed with your favorite seafood boil ingredients!

Storage Tip: This sauce can be made ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for up to three months. Simply reheat it gently before serving.

Versatile and Flavorful Uses

While a perfect match for a classic seafood boil (with crab, shrimp, crawfish, corn, and potatoes), this sauce's versatility extends beyond that single dish:

• Use it as a dipping sauce for cooked seafood like shrimp or crab legs.

• Drizzle it over grilled fish or shrimp.

• Toss it with pasta for a burst of Cajun-inspired flavor.

Crab Du Jour's special sauce is a key ingredient to the restaurant's incredible success and its rapid expansion in the Philadelphia area. By masterfully blending four classic flavors, it creates an addictive and delicious coating for any seafood dish. But thanks to its simple preparation, you can easily recreate this "secret weapon" at home and elevate your own seafood creations to new heights.

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