Deviled crab (Tampa devil crab)
Photo: Sumit Surai · CC BY-SA 4.0

History

Deviled crabs originated in Ybor City's Spanish-Cuban-Italian immigrant community during the 1920 cigar workers strike. Cigar workers caught blue crabs from Tampa Bay and used day-old Cuban bread to stretch the meat into a portable, deep-fried croquette they could carry on the picket line. The Spanish croquette tradition mixed with Cuban sofrito and Sicilian peppers and onions. Francisco Oscar Miranda sold devil crabs from a motorized bike across Tampa from 1920 to 1953. The torpedo shape is the signature.

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Common allergens: Gluten, Shellfish

Make it at home

Yield 12Hands-on 1 hrTotal 3 hrDifficulty Advanced

Ingredients

  • 500g lump blue crab meat, picked over
  • 1 onion, finely diced
  • 1 green pepper, finely diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 150g tomato sauce
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 300g day-old Cuban bread, ground into fine breadcrumbs
  • 100g all-purpose flour
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • Neutral oil, for deep-frying

Method

  1. Saute onion, green pepper and garlic in olive oil until soft, about 8 minutes. Add tomato sauce, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes.
  2. Fold in the crab meat. Cool the mixture completely.
  3. Mix half the breadcrumbs into the cold crab mix to bind. The texture should hold a torpedo shape when squeezed in the palm.
  4. Form into torpedo shapes about 10cm long. Refrigerate 1 hour to set.
  5. Dredge each torpedo in flour, dip in beaten egg, then coat in remaining breadcrumbs. Refrigerate again 30 minutes.
  6. Heat oil to 180C. Fry 3-4 at a time, 4 minutes per batch, until deep golden. Drain on paper. Serve hot.

Tip from the editors. The Cuban-bread breadcrumb is non-negotiable. If you cannot find Cuban bread, use stale brioche; never panko, which breaks the texture.

Where to eat deviled crab (tampa devil crab)

Deviled crab (Tampa devil crab) in Tampa

Brocato's Sandwich Shop ★ 4.6

$ CaribbeanWest Tampa

Brocato's on East Columbus Drive in Tampa has built Cuban sandwiches, deviled crabs and stuffed potatoes since 1948 from a neighborhood storefront.

OrderThe Cuban sandwich with a deviled crab on the side.

TipCash and card both work; the party finger sandwiches (mini Cubans and mini deviled crabs) are the catering pick.

Directions

Michelle Faedo's On the Go ★ 4.5

$ Street food

Michelle Faedo's deviled crabs run $6 each from the Ybor counter and food truck, the most affordable take on the classic Tampa croquette. Open year-round.

TryDeviled crab

Directions

Mauricio Faedo's Bakery ★ 4.7

$ BakeryCuban bread and deviled crabWest TampaWalk-in only

Mauricio Faedo's Bakery on North Florida Avenue bakes Cuban bread, breakfast Cuban toast and deviled crabs daily, with the family running it since 1955.

Worth the queueDaily-baked Cuban bread

Directions

Alessi Bakery ★ 4.8

$ BakeryItalian and CubanWest TampaWalk-in only

Alessi Bakery on West Cypress has run an Italian and Cuban bakery in Tampa since 1912, with famous hand-carved Cuban sandwiches, deviled crabs and cannolis.

Worth the queueHand-carved Cuban sandwich

Directions

La Teresita ★ 4.5

$$ CubanWest Tampa

La Teresita on Columbus Drive has run a Cuban counter and dining room in West Tampa since 1972, owned by the Capdevila family across two generations.

OrderPalomilla steak with yellow rice and black beans.

TipThe counter side runs 6am to midnight Friday and Saturday; the dining room takes reservations next door.

Directions Book

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