Suggestions for crab cakes, anyone?

[baby_bear]

I just returned from my 27-day boat vacation in British Columbia, with about a pound of Dungeness crab meat, from Genoa Bay (don't worry, I threw the females back). I had a couple days of crab salad and now want to make crab cakes but have never tried before. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm not a mayonnaise fan. I know some people use that as a binder.

Had lots of butter clams and oysters along the way also! Sure hated to come home...

thanks for any suggestions, s_m

[GOPisEvil]

1. Use an egg and bread crumbs to bind...

...toss in some herbs and seasoning...then pan fry 'em! :9

[wryter2000]

2. Also,

Also, a bit of mustard and finely chopped green onions (scallions) are good, too.

[eyesroll]

3. I've used eggs as a binder.

Since you're not a mayo fan, if you want a sauce, try a roasted red pepper puree.

[FlashHarry]

4. Er... eating them?

I dunno. I suppose you could tile your bathroom with them, but you'd have to seal them in some sort of lacquer. ;-)

[Rowdyboy]

5. Senator Barbara Mikulski has a great one...

http://mikulski.senate.gov/crabcake.html

[baby_bear]

6. How about mashed red potatoes?

I was looking around the 'net and found this recipe, which calls for 1/2 crab and 1/2 mashed red potatoes. http://www.fishsniffer.com/recipes/crab5.html

Different, eh?

I'm thinking of trying it, then dredging the cakes in panko and then deep frying them.

Sounds pretty radical though. One doesn't have a pound of fresh crab in one's refrigerator often...I don't want to ruin it! I should spend as much thought and agony over the important decisions in life, like, should I go back to work at all?

Sorry, got off the subject....

s_m

[amazona]

9. yes, go for it

I don't remember if I used this particular recipe but I've used the red potato/red onion type mix before, and I seem to remember that they came out very well. In fact, I am getting hungry now just thinking about it.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

7. OK here ya go

1 lb crab
1 egg
1/2 cup of bread crumbs
1/2 stalk celery finely chopped
1/4 onion finely chopped
1/4 red bell pepper finely chopped
1/2 tsp OLD BAY seasoning

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and make patties.
Heat 2 tbs oil on high heat in a frying pan and cook patties until sides are gold, flip and then remove from heat.

For a sauce, take 1/4 cup olive oil, remainder of red pepper, tabasco sauce, 1/8 cup red wine vinegar and 2 tbs of any STRONG brown mustard and combine on food processor.

Enjoy!

[DemNoir]

8. Please dont forget

The Old Bay seasoning

[baby_bear]

12. Old Bay -- is that an East Coast thing?

I'm not familiar with that out here in Washington State, but I seem to remember it when I ate some soft shell crabs with a friend in Maryland many years ago. What's in it (the seasoning)?

s_m

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

15. It's got everything..salt pepper celery salt

[SoCalDem]

10. sorry...could not resist

[baby_bear]

13. I love it!!!!

Crab Cake, indeed!

Thanks for the laugh!!!

(Looks yummy too.)

s_m

[BlueJazz]

26. I must be warped cause when I

saw the post I thought the same thing or that it was a pet Crab's birthday!

[SOteric]

11. Use egg

a large amount of Panko (a japanese style breading available at most larger super markets on the west coast) a small amount of mustard, a dash of worcestershire sauce, a dash of tabasco or other hot pepper sauce, some salt & pepper.

Combine the crab meat with a bit of chopped celery, mild white onion (Mayan sweets if you can get them) and chopped red pepper. I personally like the flavour of a homemade garlic mayonnaise in them, but if you really don't like mayonnaise you can omit it.

Mix all the ingredients together until a fairly stiff, formable mixture results. Then pan fry them until golden brown on both sides. I like to garnish with a corn relish, the flavours really compliment one another.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

16. I'm gonna try yours!

[Don_G]

18. Panko?

So that what that c**p was.

I went to a local restaurant once (HQ on the West Coast) and ordered Fried Green Tomatoes; inedible to say the least and I haven't been back in 6 years....

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

19. I agree..you can't panko fry green tomatoes

Gotta dredge em in buttermilk and cornmeal with lotsa pepper spices or they ain't the real thang!

[blindersoff]

14. we just got back from the Olympic peninsula 2 wks ago

and ate our fill of crab cakes, crab salad, clams and salmon fresh out of the water. I don't have a recipe for crab cakes, but I would imagine onions, peppers, a bit of crumbs and an egg to bind it all together, and then bake.

The fresh seafood was so good and we loved the area so much that we have decided to move to the area. We have been sick of Southern California for a long time and just want to get out of the rat race. So I am collecting moving boxes and we are going to DO it!

[baby_bear]

22. All right! I'm a California transplant myself.

I moved up here for an internship while a grad student at UCLA and never looked back. I miss the beach at Venice, where I lived, but the boating up here is just incredible.

Keep in touch!

s_m

[asjr]

17. crab

This is cruelty! All I have in my fridge is bolonga and carrots.

[baby_bear]

24. Come on over and have a crab cake!

Bring some wine,eh?

s_m

[trof]

20. Don't forget Tabasco!

2 or 3 good healthy splashes of Tabasco in the mix.
You won't taste "tabasco" in the final product, but you will taste a little spicey something extra.
I use Tabasco in everything but the scotch & soda.

[BigMcLargehuge]

21. stay in school, don't use drugs...

oh wait... you mean for eating crab cakes?

[corarose]

23. Dill, Saltine Crackers, Red Bell Pepper, Egg & Sour Cream

You can substitute a little bit of Sour Cream or Yogurt for the Mayo and it would work. I am not a big fan of Mayo also.

[baby_bear]

25. Saltines, really?

Do you use them for coating or filling?

I have four little bitty red potatoes that I am cooking. I'm going to try that as part of the filling.

The more I think about it, the more I think that less is more, i.e., I shouldn't try to do too much to the crab meat except get it to hold together.

I wish everyone could come over and have a bite!

s_m

[corarose]

27. Don't add salt if you use them or use unsalted ones

Take your potatoes and cut them in quarters or halfs depending on their size. Toss them with some olive oil, rosemary, s & p and a little bit of garlic salt but don't use the salt if you add a touch of garlic salt and then put them on a foil lined cookie sheet and bake them until they are done.

Make a sauce to go on top of your crab cakes and that is where you want your flavors to be stronger.

Tartar Sauce

1 egg yolk
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 cup veg or peanut oil
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
3 tbsp finely chopped scallions
2 tbsp chopped drained capers
3 tbsp finely chopped dill pickles
3 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley

[grasswire]

29. right

You want to barely hold the crab meat together. That's why mayo is a good binder. But an egg will work. Crumbs on the outside, not mixed in with the meat.

If I had an extra pound of crabmeat I would make that fabulous hot crab-cream cheese spread and eat myself sick.

Or make a nice deviled crab casserole.
Mmmm.

[corarose]

30. When I was a kid I made mini puff pastry shells with crab dip in them

They were soooo good when they were hot.

[Coffee Coyote]

28. hey!

Just saying hey, Sierra! :hi:

Your old marching pal Zomby here. :-)

[Crewleader]

31. Hi sierra_moon

While I was vacationing in Cape Cod this past July, I had dinner out in Welfleet, Mass.,a casual place for sure and ordered crab cakes because it's been years since I had them...at $16.99 for two, rather expensive I say but now you give me inspiration to try to make them myself!

Now I am bookmarking this thread,
Thanks to all the fine DUers' that made some wonderful suggestions too!

:hi:

[baby_bear]

33. I have to say, mine were GREAT

I ended up boiling 4 very small red potatoes, mashing them (no milk or other liquid), and mixing them with the crab along with two eggs, garlic, chopped green (spring) onions, pepper and some Market Spice which is a local product here in Seattle - mostly salt, paprika and various spices that adds flavor to just about anything one is preparing. Also, a hefty dash of cayenne. I coated them in Panko and deep-fried them for three minutes.

They were perfect. They tasted very rich, and I ate only one for dinner the first night, one for dinner last night, and one for breakfast this morning.

Now I guess I have to wait until next year when I return to Canadian waters and get more crab!!

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. Boy, do I love crab cakes!

s_m

[morningglory]

32. Any recipe, above, but must use Tony Chachere cajun seasoning.

It is with the spices and gets sold out quickly, so sometimes the last box of it is way in the back of the shelf. It would be near the crab boil. In a green and white round box, with a pic of Tony C. on it. It is the best seasoning for meat and many things and has no MSG.

[Rhiannon12866]

34. I have never made crab cakes sierra_moon, but have often considered it.

There are so many great recipes out there that you can choose the one that suits you best. I envy you your great trip. I have often seen them make crab cakes on The Food Network, which I often turn on while I am cooking, which is what piqued my interest. Certainly you can find an easy one, which suits your tastes, among these recipes from The Food Network. Any chance you'll invite me over?:-)

http://web.foodnetwork.com/food/web/searchResults?searchString=crab+cakes&site=FOOD&searchType=Recipe&GoSearch.x=11&GoSearch.y=7

[Pert_UK]

35. Here's what I do...

Bake potatoes in the microwave, let them cool then smash them up with a fork in a bowl (peel them if you like, or just shred the skin).

Mix in cooked crab meat, coriander leaf, sweet Thai basil (or regular basil if you can't get Thai), sweet chilli sauce, garlic, spring onion, ginger, squeeze of lemon juice, little bit of soy sauce. Maybe cooked peas or finely chopped green beans if you like them. Mix together, form into balls, flatten with hands into thick disks then fry them in a little oil.

Thai style crab cakes. Yum. Serve with salad and more sweet chilli sauce.