I may need a protective detail after publishing this post. I’m about to start some mess with my crab cake recipe. You see, I live in Maryland (home of the Blue Crab) and I make crab cakes (a lot)…wait for it…without Old Bay Seasoning. (Insert gasp and pearl-clutching here). This is one reason I don’t call my crab cakes “Maryland” crab cakes, which are known for a generous sprinkling of the Old Bay.
I have no beef with Old Bay – I don’t make my Low Country Boil without it – but I like my crab cakes to taste primarily of crab. I add a few other ingredients to enhance their flavor but when you eat one of Chef Danielle’s crab cakes, you’ll know you’re eating crab cakes. So, while I may lose my state residency, I stand by these mouth-watering crab cakes!
Crab Cakes
These crab cakes are the highlight of our Mother’s Day Menu. They’re light, flavorful and simple to prepare. Serve them with our Blender Hollandaise Sauce and Asparagus & Red Pepper Slaw for a special meal Mom will love. I got to make these on national tv on the Mr. Food syndicated cooking show a while back. You can check the video here:
TIPS FOR MAKING GREAT CRAB CAKES:
1. Choose a good quality, lump crab meat. Finer crab meat will make tastier crab cakes.
2. Mix crab meat gently and as little as possible. Lots of stirring or tossing with other ingredients can break apart your lumps.
3. The less filler you add to your crab cakes, the more delicate they’ll be. Chilling them for 20-30 minutes before sautéing will help them maintain their shape when cooked.
4. Think outside the breadbox. Plain breadcrumbs aren’t your only option. Experiment with different types of breads and breadcrumbs like Panko – Japanese bread crumbs, cracker crumbs, or cereal crumbs.
5. Crab meat pairs well with many flavors. Add a tablespoon or two of chopped fresh herbs, like thyme or parsley, a little lemon zest or minced onion or garlic to add additional flavor.
6. Use an ice cream scoop to shape your crab cakes. If they’re all the same size, they’ll cook in the same amount of time.
TOOLS:
Whisk
Blender (for Blender Hollandaise Sauce)
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TECHNIQUES:
Sautéing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 3/4 cup corn flake crumbs or bread crumbs
- 1 pound lump crab meat
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Blender Hollandaise Sauce
Instructions
- Whisk the mayonnaise, egg, mustard, hot sauce, garlic, salt and pepper together in a large bowl. Stir in the Corn Flake crumbs and crab meat, until just combined.
- Use an ice cream scoop to form 10 crab cakes and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment or foil. Press the top of each crab cake gently with a spatula to flatten them slightly. Chill the crab cakes for at least 30 minutes.
- Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Saute the crab cakes until golden brown, 4-6 minutes per side. Remove from pan and set aside while you cook the remaining crab cakes.
- Drizzle the crab cakes with Hollandaise Sauce.
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