Moroccan Spiced Crab Cakes Recipes

MOROCCAN-SPICED CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Cilantro-Orange Dressing.
• In a saucepan, boil the orange juice over moderately high heat until reduced to 2 tablespoons, about 8 minutes. Let cool, then transfer to a blender.
• Meanwhile, in a small dry skillet, toast the cumin seeds over moderate heat, shaking the pan occasionally, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Grind the cumin in a mortar or spice grinder.
• Add the cumin to the blender along with the cilantro and lemon juice and blend until smooth. With the blender on, add the canola oil in a thin, steady stream. Season with salt and cayenne.
• Crab Cakes.
• Heat the olive oil in a nonstick skillet. Add the red pepper and celery and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until the vegetables are just softened, about 2 minutes. Add the scallions and ginger and cook until the scallions are wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the cumin, turmeric and cardamom and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the cream and boil until reduced by half, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool slightly.
• Add the crabmeat to the cream mixture along with 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon of the bread crumbs, 1 1/2 tablespoons each of the parsley and chives, and the lemon zest. Season with cayenne and salt and mix gently but thoroughly.
• With moistened hands, shape the crab mixture into 8 cakes, using a scant 1/3 cup for each; the cakes should be about 3 inches wide and 3/4 inch thick. Spread the remaining bread crumbs on a large plate. Coat the crab cakes with the bread crumbs and transfer to a baking sheet lined with wax paper.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the canola oil in a medium nonstick skillet. Add half of the crab cakes and cook until browned and crisp, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a platter. Repeat with the remaining canola oil and crab cakes. Arrange the crab cakes on plates, drizzle with the Cilantro-Orange Dressing and garnish with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon each of the parsley and chives.

GOAN SPICED CRAB CAKES, PAPPADUMS, AVOCADO AND TAMARIND

Steps:

• In a large saute pan, heat one tablespoon of the corn oil. Add the onion, ginger and garlic and saute for 5 minutes over medium heat. Add the coriander, cumin, turmeric and the tomato and continue to cook until it turns dry. Remove from the heat and cool down. In a large mixing bowl, combine crabmeat, the cooled onion mixture, shrimp, lime zest and juice, cilantro, chives, beaten egg and 3 tablespoons of the panko. Season with salt, pepper and cayenne. Mix well so that all the ingredients are well incorporated. Test a small quantity by forming a teaspoon of this mix into a small patty and frying it in a pan. Adjust the salt and pepper if necessary. Divide this mixture into 4 equal portions. Form into balls and flatten to form small patties. Put the rest of the panko on a cutting board. Place the patties one at a time in the bread crumbs. Heat a heavy bottomed skillet large enough to hold the crab cakes on medium heat. Add the oil and fry the crab cakes. When the cakes turn a light golden color, flip them over and cook them on the other side until they are light golden in color. Using a slotted spatula, remove and drain on a paper towel Take 4 large plates and place the baby greens in the centers and a pappadum on top of the greens. Fill each pappadum with a scoop of avocado salad and top with a crab cake. Spoon the tamarind around the plate.
• In a large bowl, combine the diced avocado with the juice and the zest of the lime. Add the tomatoes, onion and cilantro. Mix well, taking care not to smash the avocado and the tomatoes. Next add the cumin, cayenne, salt, pepper, extra virgin olive oil and sugar. Taste and season if necessary. Refrigerate until ready to use or at least two hours.

CAYENNE-SPIKED CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Mix first 7 ingredients in medium bowl. Mix in crab. Mix in enough breadcrumbs (about 2 cups) to form mixture that barely holds together. Spread remaining breadcrumbs on baking sheet.
• Shape crab mixture into eight 3/4-inch-thick patties. Coat crab cakes with remaining breadcrumbs, pressing to adhere. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour. (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead; keep refrigerated.)
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter with 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 4 crab cakes; reduce heat to medium and cook until brown, about 4 minutes per side. Wipe skillet clean. Repeat with remaining butter, oil and crab cakes. Transfer crab cakes to plates. Serve crab cakes immediately with lemon wedges.

SPICY CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Mince together the onion, cilantro, jalapeño and bell pepper. (If using a food processor, take care not to purée mixture.)
• In a bowl, combine mixture with crab meat, egg, mayonnaise, ginger, curry powder, cumin and salt. Add lemon juice and mix until evenly blended. Add one cup of the bread crumbs, and mix again until well blended.
• Form mixture into two evenly sized balls, squeezing firmly, then press into burger shapes; if any bits come off, mold them back on. Rub cakes on both sides with remaining bread crumbs.
• Cover surface of a 10-inch skillet with oil; turn heat to medium-high and, a minute later, gently slide crab cakes into pan. Lower heat to medium, and cook until golden brown. Carefully flip them over and brown the other side; total cooking time will be about 10 minutes. Serve with an India pale ale.