Skip to content

Robert St. John

Restaurateur, author, enthusiastic traveler, & world-class eater.

Curried Crab Dip with Vegetable Fritters

Ingredients

Crab Dip

1 Tbl vegetable oil
1 Tbl garlic, minced
1 Tbl Madras curry powder
1 cup Blueplate® Mayonnaise
1 /2 cup buttermilk
1 /4 cup sour cream
2 Tbl Mango chutney
1 green onion (white and green), thinly sliced
2 Tbl red bell pepper, finely diced
1 Tbl rice vinegar
2 tsp hot sauce
1 tsp lime juice, freshly squeezed
1 Tbl fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1 tsp salt
1 /2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 /2 pound crab meat

Vegetable Fritters

1 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp Creole Seasoning
1 Tbl baking powder
1 egg
1 /2 cup buttermilk
1 /3 cup milk
2 Tbl bacon fat, melted
1 /2 cup zucchini, coarsely shredded
1 /4 cup carrot, shredded
1 /4 cup broccoli florettes, finely chopped
1 Tbl green onion, minced
1 tsp Garlic, minced
Oil for frying
Salt to taste

Instructions

Heat oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook about two minutes. Do not brown. Add curry and cook, stirring, until fragrant about 30 seconds more. Set aside and cool. 

In a bowl, combine sour cream, buttermilk, curry mixture, mayonnaise, chutney, green onion, hot sauce, lime juice, salt, pepper, and cilantro and mix well. Gently fold in crabmeat, and chill before serving.

Serve with vegetables fritters (crackers or chips work well, too)

Yield: 1 quart

In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder. In a separate bowl, mix together egg, buttermilk and milk. Fold wet ingredients into dry and mix until just blended. Do not over mix. Gently fold in the vegetables. Add garlic

Heat oil to 375 degrees. 

Gently drop 1- 1 1 /2 tablespoon-sized spoonfuls into the hot oil, frying only a few at a time. Cook until golden brown. Remove from the oil, and allow to drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt. Serve immediately.

Yield: 25-30 fritters

Recent Recipes

Harrison’s Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

Having a son who’s following in your footsteps is one thing. Watching him take what you’ve taught him and elevate it to something even better—that’s special. During his Christmas break from the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York, a few years ago, he nudged me out of the way and made these mashed potatoes. I was skeptical, of course as I’ve been making mashed potatoes for decades. But there was no question his version was better. There’s a lot of pride in seeing him excel in the kitchen, making something as simple as mashed potatoes taste extraordinary. This recipe has become a new tradition in our family. Watching him cook now, with all that skill and precision, is a proud moment for me every time. This is his recipe, and I’ve adopted it as my own.

Read more

Macaroni and Cheese

Growing up, elaborate mac & cheese wasn’t something that made its way to our dinner table. That’s not some sort of elitist statement. We grew up in a very modest way. It’s just that macaroni and cheese was something my mom never purchased at the store and therefore never served. This recipe is rich and indulgent with a blend of cheeses that create a creamy, savory masterpiece. Adding crispy fried shallots or crumbled bacon to the breadcrumb topping gives it a savory, satisfying crunch. The blend of cheeses—Velveeta for creaminess, Gruyere for nuttiness, Cheddar for sharpness, and Colby Jack for that buttery melt—makes all the difference.

Read more

Robert’s Christmas Turkey 2025

There's nothing like a well-roasted turkey to anchor a holiday table, and no one made it quite like my grandmother. She didn't wait until Thanksgiving to serve it. She'd roast a turkey once a month throughout the year, never mind the occasion. It was a staple at her table. My mother, on the other hand, always made a formal Christmas Eve dinner, complete with turkey, dressing, and gravy. As kids, the excitement of Christmas Eve was almost too much to bear. Those big dinners felt like the beginning of Christmas itself. It’s a memory that comes to mind every time I cook a turkey or make gravy. And a good gravy can make or break the meal. Making sure the roux browns just right and finishing the gravy with a touch of lemon juice or fresh herbs are tricks worth remembering. A little extra attention to the gravy goes a long way.

Read more