 |
| These crab cakes are so wonderfully crab!! |
These crab cakes are just that...full of crab meat very little bread for filler. As you can tell by the picture they are not your average cakes that look like a squashed hush puppy!! Lol The original recipe and photo are from my Pampered Chef cookbook: "Cooking for two or more". As always I changed it up to fit my taste requirements, which is picky to the max! This recipe is requested by my friend Heather..or Sweet Cheeks.. as she is known in the gaming world, where I met this lovely lady. Hope this fits your idea of a real crab cake not a bread cake!! Lol Love you girl!
INGREDIENTS:
CRAB CAKES
8 oz king or snow crab meat, shelled and torn into pieces
(about 1 lb of crab legs in shells)
3/4 cup fresh bread crumbs, coarsely chopped
(3 slices of French bread), divided
2 tbsp mayonnaise
2 tsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
WHITE WINE LEMON SAUCE
1/4 cup dry white wine, like Chardonnay
( I use white cooking wine in mine)
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 shallot, finely chopped
(I don't like onion in any form so I use onion powder in mine)
2 tbsp heavy whipping cream
(I use more like a 1/4 cup for a creamier taste and texture)
1/8 tsp salt
2 tbsp butter, chopped into small pieces
DIRECTIONS:
1. For crab cakes, combine all ingredients except olive oil and using only 1/4 cup of the bread crumbs. Mix gently. Divide into 4 equal crab cakes. They are very large size cakes so can make them smaller and make more crab cakes if you like. They are so good you will want the bigger size though!! Heat oil in large skillet...I use an electric skillet for even heating. Coat cakes in remaining bread crumbs on both sides. Cook over medium heat 4-6 minutes per side, or until deep golden brown on each side. Turn only once. Drain on paper towel.
2. While cakes are cooking prepare sauce. Combine wine, lemon juice and shallot or onion powder in small skillet..I use a small sauce pan so it doesn't evaporate to quickly. Simmer over medium high heat for 1-2 minutes or until most of the liquid is evaporated. Takes a couple minutes longer if you use sauce pan. Add cream and salt and bring to a boil then remove from heat. Add butter a few pieces at a time and whisk after each addition until butter is completely mixed in sauce. Spoon onto plates and put crab cakes on top of sauce.
These are the best crab cakes ever!!!! I don't usually like crab cakes because they are so full of everything else and very little crab. Most put peppers, celery and onions in them which to me totally drowns out the flavor of the sweet crab meat. Seafood and fish absorb flavors very easily, a little can go a long way. But if you are a fan of those veggies feel free to add them to your recipe...because as I always say... make it your own creation! What makes these so good is the small amount of added ingredients so you can taste all that lovely crab meat. The bread crumbs on top are delicious, they add an unexpected crunchy texture that just makes them even yummier!! The sauce is a flavor explosion in your mouth..the subtle hint of the wine, the tartness of the lemon and the richness of the butter all combine to send your taste buds to heaven with every bite. I played around with the sauce till I got the flavor I wanted. I added a little more wine and a lot more of the heavy whipping cream because I found the original recipe to be slightly bitter, not a good balance of the ingredients. So taste it as you go. If you want it smoother add more cream. I wanted to taste the wine more so added a couple tablespoons more. Just play around with it...I love that I can play with my food..sorry mom all those years you told me to quit playing with my food as I tried to pick out all the stuff I didn't like!! LOL And most important never ever forget to put love into your food, remember you are cooking for the ones you love, so don't be stingy with that love, put in a double dose just for good measure!!
I encourage you to try something new in your cooking at least once a week. Show your family you have pizzazz and flair...don't ever be boring in anything you do...break out of the box life has you in and be adventurous...if it's only in the kitchen!! Get out there and live life to the fullest because once it's gone it's gone no going back for do overs. Don't live life with regrets but with great memories of a happy life. I don't want to be sitting in my rocking chair thinking I wish I would have..but smiling thinking oh yes I did!! But in every thing you do, do it with love. Love can break your heart but it can heal it also. Chances never taken are chances missed! Janie's philosophy :D
No comments:
Post a Comment