Zesty Crab Cakes Recipes

ZESTY CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons cornmeal. Whisk next 9 ingredients in a large bowl. Gently mix in crab, peppers, and breadcrumbs.
• For each crab cake, shape 1/3 cup crab mixture into a patty; place on prepared sheet. Sprinkle with remaining cornmeal. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate 15 minutes.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook crab cakes in batches, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Serve with lemon.

SPICY CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400˚. Brush a 24-cup mini-muffin pan (preferably nonstick) with olive oil.
• Mix the crab meat, crushed crackers, mayonnaise, egg white, chives, lemon zest and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl until combined. Fill the muffin cups with the crab mixture. Refrigerate 15 minutes.
• Bake the crab cakes until warmed through and browned around the edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the pan. Top with more chipotle mayonnaise and chopped chives.

PAN-FRIED SPICY CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Melt butter in a small saute pan over medium heat. Add onions, celery and bell peppers. Season with salt and cayenne. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are soft and slightly golden, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, combine the crabmeat, green onions, Parmesan, parsley, mustard and lemon juice. Mix the mayonnaise, Worcestershire Sauce and hot pepper sauce together. Combine vegetable mixture with crab mixture. Fold in the mayonnaise mixture and 3/4 cup of the bread crumbs. Divide combined mixture into 10 equal portions and form into 1-inch thick round patties. In a shallow bowl, combine the flour and season with Essence. In another bowl, whisk the egg with the water. In a third bowl, combine the remaining 3/4 cup bread crumbs and season with Essence. Dredge the crab cakes first in seasoned flour, tapping off excess, then in egg wash, letting excess drip off. Lastly, dredge cakes into seasoned bread crumbs, coating cakes evenly. In a large saute pan, heat oil. Gently lay the cakes, 3 to 4 at a time, and pan fry until lightly golden, about 4 minutes on each side. Drain cakes on paper towels and season with Essence while still hot.
• To serve, place Creole Meuniere sauce in the center of each plate. Spoon the Roasted Vegetable Pecan Relish in the center of the sauce and lay a cake on top of the relish. Garnish with green onions and Essence.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

CRABCAKES WITH ZESTY HERB TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse oyster crackers into crumbs, then transfer to a large bowl. Add the cornichons, capers, scallions and tarragon to the food processor and pulse into small pieces. Add the mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard and pepper and pulse to combine.
• Remove 1/2 cup tartar sauce to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate. Pour the remaining tartar sauce into the bowl with the cracker crumbs and gently fold together with the egg and crabmeat. Use a 1/4-cup measure to form the mixture 16 crabcakes.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and, working in batches, cook the crabcakes until golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Serve with a dollop of the reserved tartar sauce and lemon wedges.