Irresistibly Crispy Keto Crab Rangoon Recipe – Low-Carb Takeout Made Easy!

Craving the crispy, creamy, and crabby goodness of crab rangoon while sticking to a keto diet? Look no further! This recipe provides a delicious low-carb version of the popular takeout appetizer, using low-carb tortillas or a homemade mozzarella dough for a guilt-free indulgence.

Why This Recipe Works

Traditional crab rangoon, with their wonton wrappers, are unfortunately not keto-friendly. This recipe solves that problem by offering a couple of low-carb alternatives:

Low-Carb Tortillas or Flatbreads: CutDaCarb Flatbreads or low-carb tortillas can be used as a wrapper for the filling.
Mozzarella Dough: A simple dough made from melted mozzarella cheese, almond flour, and egg creates a surprisingly crispy and chewy shell.

Ingredients

For the Filling:

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
6 ounces crab meat (real or imitation, see notes below)
2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons chopped green onions
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (optional, see notes below)
Erythritol or other keto-friendly sweetener to taste (optional)
Fish sauce to taste

For the Dough (Mozzarella Dough Method):

3 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup almond flour
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
Pinch of salt

For Cooking:

1/4 cup coconut oil (for pan-frying) or nonstick cooking spray (for air frying)

Instructions

Preparing the Filling:

In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, crab meat, soy sauce, green onions, Worcestershire sauce (if using), erythritol (if using), and fish sauce.
Mix well until all ingredients are fully combined.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate the filling until ready to use. This helps the flavors meld and makes the filling easier to work with.

Making the Dough (Mozzarella Dough Method):

Place the shredded mozzarella cheese in a large, microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring well between each interval, until the cheese is completely melted.
Add the almond flour, egg, xanthan gum, and salt to the melted cheese.
Stir well until a dough-like mixture forms. If you have trouble mixing, microwave the mixture for 15 seconds and try again.
Once the dough is formed, transfer it to plastic wrap, wrap it tightly, and place it in the freezer for 20 minutes. This step is important, especially if the dough is sticky, as it makes it easier to handle.
After 20 minutes, remove the dough from the freezer and divide it into 2 equal portions.
Place one portion between two large sheets of parchment paper and roll it into a flat sheet approximately ⅛" thick.
Cut the sheet of dough into 2 ½" squares.
Set the squares aside and repeat the process with the other half of the dough.

Assembling and Cooking the Crab Rangoon:

Using Mozzarella Dough:

Place 1 heaping teaspoon of filling mixture in the center of each dough square.
Fold the corners of the dough square around the filling and pinch to seal. Ensure the edges are well-sealed to prevent the filling from leaking out during cooking.
Repeat until each square has been filled and folded.

Using Low-Carb Tortillas or Flatbreads:

Lay out the tortillas or flatbreads on a clean surface.
Spread a thin layer of softened cream cheese over each tortilla.
Top with a layer of the crab filling.
Roll the tortillas tightly into logs.
Slice the logs into pinwheels about 1-inch thick.

Pan-Frying (Mozzarella Dough Method):

Heat ¼ cup coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. The oil should be hot and shimmery.
Place the folded rangoon in the skillet, being careful not to overcrowd.
Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until golden brown.
Transfer the cooked rangoon to a wire cooling rack to drain excess oil.
Repeat until all rangoon have been pan-fried, adding more oil to the skillet as needed.

Air Frying (Tortilla Pinwheel Method):

Preheat your air fryer to 370°F (188°C).
Lightly spray the pinwheels with oil.
Place the pinwheels in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded.
Air fry for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.

Serving Suggestions

Serve warm.
Enjoy these crab rangoon as a standalone appetizer or pair them with a fresh, crisp salad for a light meal.
They’re perfect for gatherings, as their bite-sized nature makes them easy for guests to enjoy.
For an added touch, serve alongside various dipping sauces such as sugar-free sweet chili sauce, keto-friendly soy sauce alternative, or a creamy avocado dip to cater to different taste preferences.

Tips and Variations

Crab Meat: You can use imitation crab meat instead of real crab meat if you’d rather. Keep in mind that the crab flavor wouldn’t be as strong, and you’d be adding in starches, sugars, and other filler ingredients which would increase the carb count. If using canned crab meat, press it between paper towels to remove excess moisture and prevent soggy pinwheels.
Worcestershire Sauce: Worcestershire contains a small amount of sugar, so this recipe is not entirely sugar-free. There is only 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire used for the entire filling, though, so it only adds a nominal amount of sugar to the recipe.
Cream Cheese: For the best texture, ensure the cream cheese is at room temperature before spreading it on the tortillas. Cold cream cheese just won’t be easy to work with and won’t combine well with the other ingredients. If you forget to set it out to come to room temperature, place the block in a small microwave-safe bowl and heat it in 30-second bursts on low power until it’s softened, but not hot or melted.
Don’t Overfill: Don’t overfill the dough wrappers. If you do, you risk them bursting open in the skillet. They’d taste fine, but you don’t want to lose all that delicious filling!
Oil Temperature: If the oil’s too hot, the rangoon will burn, but if it’s not hot enough, the rangoon will just soak up the oil.
Slicing Pinwheels: To make slicing the pinwheels easier and cleaner, chill the rolled tortillas in the refrigerator for about 10-15 minutes before cutting.
Air Fryer Temperature: If your air fryer tends to cook hot, start checking the pinwheels at the 6-minute mark to avoid over-browning.
Vegetarian Option: Substitute crab meat with finely chopped artichokes or a blend of sautéed mushrooms and spinach.
Spicy Kick: Add a dash of cayenne pepper to the cream cheese or a few slices of jalapeño on top of the crab layer for a spicy version.
Cheese Variety: Mix in some shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese with the cream cheese for a cheesy twist.

Prep Ahead

These pinwheels can be prepared ahead of time up to the point of air frying. Store the rolled and sliced pinwheels in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. You can freeze the assembled and uncooked Rangoons for later air frying.

Nutritional Information (Estimate)

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings.*Please note: Nutritional data has been calculated using a tool that comes with this recipe card and not by me. This means that Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that you use. The accuracy of this tool may differ from other tools as expected.

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