Crusty Crab Recipes

Steps:

• Make the tartar sauce: Mix the mayonnaise, pickles, scallions, parsley, lemon juice, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce in a medium bowl until combined. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes to blend the flavors.
• Meanwhile, make the crab cakes: Mix the mayonnaise, parsley, mustard, lemon juice and Old Bay in a large bowl until combined. Add the panko and mix again. Add the crab and mix, taking care not to crush the meat. Shape the crab mixture into 8 patties, each about 3 inches in diameter. Cover and refrigerate 15 to 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with a brown paper bag or a double layer of paper towels. Pour enough vegetable oil into a large skillet to come 1/2 inch up the side and heat over medium-high heat until the oil is hot but not smoking. Add the crab cakes in batches and cook until the undersides are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Flip the cakes and continue cooking until golden, about 2 more minutes. Transfer the crab cakes to the lined baking sheet and keep them warm in the oven while cooking the remaining cakes. Serve hot with the tartar sauce and lemon wedges.

Steps:

• Crack the crab reserving the juices and tomalley. Set aside.
• Make the tomalley sauce by pushing the tomalley through a sieve with a wooden spoon into a small pot. Add the chili flakes, thyme, garlic, and lemon juice. Mix in the reserved crab juices and bring to a quick simmer over low heat. Give it a final quick stir and remove the pan from the heat. Pour the tomalley mixture into a small mixing bowl and allow it to cool. (Start roasting the crab once the tomalley sauce is cooling.) As soon as the tomalley sauce feels lukewarm to the touch, add the mayonnaise or aioli along with the salt and pepper. Taste and add more salt, pepper, or thyme, if you like.
• Put a rack in the middle or lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• On the stove, in a large oven-proof saute pan or casserole, heat the butter, olive oil, garlic, thyme, and lemon zest over medium-high heat until hot. Add crab pieces and season with salt, pepper, to taste, and mix well. Put the pan in the oven and cook until the crab is hot throughout and the garlic is golden brown. (Watch carefully; the crab heats very quickly and at 500 degrees F the garlic can burn easily.) Remove the crab from the oven, drizzle with 4 tablespoons of lemon juice and scatter the parsley over the top.
• To serve, stack the crab on a platter and drizzle with the tomalley sauce or serve the tomalley sauce in a small bowl and allow your guests to help themselves. Garnish the platter with lemon wedges and slices of garlic-rubbed toast. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• In a medium bowl add the crabmeat, 1 cup of the bread crumbs, mayonnaise, mustard, hot sauce, 1 egg, parsley, lemon juice, and salt and pepper, to taste, and gently combine. Divide the crab mixture into 6 equal patties and arrange on a sheet pan lined with waxed paper.
• Set up a breading station using 3 baking dishes or pie plates. In the first dish combine the flour with a healthy pinch of salt and pepper. In the second dish whisk together the remaining 2 eggs with 1/4 cup of water. In the third dish combine the remaining bread crumbs with a healthy pinch of salt and pepper. Dredged the crab cakes in the seasoned flour, then in the egg wash and then coat them thoroughly in the bread crumbs. Arrange on a sheet tray.
• Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the cakes in batches of 6 until brown and crispy, about 3 minutes per side. Remove to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
• In a small bowl whisk together all of the remoulade ingredients and set aside until ready to use.
• In a large bowl whisk together the olive oil, blood orange juice and Dijon mustard. Add the arugula, season with salt and pepper, to taste, and toss to coat.
• To Serve:
• Divide the salad equally between 6 plates. Top with a crab cake, drizzle with remoulade and serve.

Steps:

• For the crab cakes: Place a medium cast-iron pan over medium heat. Add the butter and shallots and sweat until softened and just starting to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, combine the crab, cracker crumbs, parsley, dill, softened shallots and a sprinkle of salt and pepper in a bowl. Set aside. Mix the egg, creme fraiche, mayonnaise and Dijon in a medium bowl until combined. Slowly add the wet ingredients to the crab and mix well until incorporated. Form 6 equal sized balls and flatten into discs.
• For the dredge: In a bowl, combine the cornmeal, smoked paprika, white pepper, salt, seafood seasoning and celery salt. Gently coat the exterior of each crab cake disc in the cornmeal mixture and place on a tray. Chill the crab cakes in the refrigerator for approximately 1 hour or up to 4 hours to help them stay together while cooking.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the celery root remoulade: Meanwhile, thinly slice the celery root and apples on a mandoline and cut into matchsticks. Place both in a large bowl and cover with the lemon juice to coat so they do not brown or oxidize. In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, creme fraiche, hot sauce, tarragon, Dijon and salt, then season with the pepper. Add the creme fraiche mixture to the celery root and apples and gently toss to combine. (For a thinner sauce, feel free to add more mayonnaise and adjust seasoning.)
• In a 12-inch cast-iron skillet on medium heat, then add the olive oil and butter and heat until hot. Place the crab cakes in the skillet and sear to crispy, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer the cast iron to the oven for 5 minutes to warm through.
• For the pea shoot salad: Add the pea shoots and radishes to a medium bowl. Drizzle with the olive oil and lemon juice to coat. Add the mustard seeds, then season with salt and pepper and mix gently.
• Spread a generous amount of remoulade on a platter. Place the crab cakes on top and garnish with the salad.

Steps:

• Combine the cream cheese and all but 1/2 cup of the crabmeat in a medium bowl. Mix until thoroughly combined. Roll into an 8-inch log and refrigerate until firmed up slightly, about 1 hour. Refrigerate the remaining 1/2 cup crabmeat until serving.
• Meanwhile, combine the ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, salt and some pepper in a medium bowl. Taste and adjust to your liking.
• Place the log on a serving platter. Spoon some of the sauce over it, reserving the remaining sauce in a small bowl to serve on the side. Sprinkle the reserved 1/2 cup crabmeat on top and garnish with the chives. Rub the garlic onto one side of each slice of bread and arrange the bread on the serving platter.

Steps:

• Cut a slit, length-wise, into the shell of each piece of crab.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat; cook the garlic in the butter until translucent; stir in the parsley, salt, and pepper. Continue to heat mixture until bubbling. Add the crab legs; toss to coat; allow to simmer in the butter mixture until completely heated, 5 to 6 minutes.

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients and chill.
• Serve with sliced, crusty French bread.