Northwest Dungeness Crab Cakes Recipes

Steps:

• Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat and add the clarified butter; once hot, add the salmon and rockfish and cook 1 minute 30 seconds per side, reducing heat if necessary to avoid burning. Working quickly, add the white wine and mussels and cover the pan. Check mussels after 1 minute to see if they have opened, then cover and continue to cook for another minute if not. Uncover and add Cioppino. Cook until sauce is warm through, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl, topped with Crab Cake and garnished with parsley.
• Heat an 8- to 10-quart stockpot over medium heat; add the oil. Add the carrot, celery and onion and stir to coat in oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are cooked through but not falling apart, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the garlic puree, oregano, chile flakes, fennel seed, marjoram and thyme, and stir to coat; cook for 2 minutes. Turn the heat up to medium-high, then add clam broth, diced tomato, tomato sauce, tomato paste, red wine, basil, sugar, red wine vinegar, anchovy paste, lemon juice and bay leaves. Stir well to combine. Turn the heat down to low when it starts to bubble. Simmer, stirring occasionally so the bottom of the stockpot does not scorch, for 2 hours. Can be served immediately, or cooled completely and refrigerated to use within 3 days or frozen up to 3 months.
• Heat a large saute pan over medium heat; add the butter and onions. Sweat the onions until translucent in color and soft but not falling apart, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool.
• Meanwhile, combine the red pepper, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, seafood seasoning, hot sauce, eggs and the cooled onions in a large mixing bowl; stir to combine. Gently, working with your hands, mix in Dungeness crab and then 1/2 cup panko. Don't overwork the mixture; you want it to still have larger pieces of crab intact. Refrigerate 10 to 20 minutes.
• Portion the mixture into 3-ounce balls and roll them in a bowl containing the remaining 1 cup panko. Shape the cakes using either a 2-inch ring mold or by hand by sprinkling about 1 tablespoon panko onto a clean work surface and gently pressing the ball into a cake shape. Sprinkle a small amount of panko on top of the crab cake and gently press it into the cake. Press in the sides of the cake to repair any cracks or tears so it does not fall apart during the cooking process. (You can make the cakes up to 24 hours ahead of when you plan on cooking and serving. They hold well refrigerated in an airtight container with parchment paper in between them if you are going to stack them.)
• Deep fry crab cakes in canola oil at 350 degrees F until crispy and golden brown, about 2 minutes, or pan-fry in about 1/2 inch oil until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. You can also cook on a griddle or in a saute pan on medium to medium-high heat in about a teaspoon of cooking oil or butter each until a golden brown crust develops, 4 to 5 minutes per side.

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Sauce the onion and celery until the vegetables are very soft but not brown. While they are cooking, heat the milk to a simmer.
• Add the 6 tablespoons flour to the vegetables and cook over low heat, stirring constantly for 3-4 minutes. Slowly whisk in the hot milk. The mixture will be very thick. Continue stirring until the mixture comes to a boil.
• Remove from the heat and beat in the egg yolks one at a time. Beat in the salt, pepper, Tabasco sauce and parsley. Spread onto a large baking sheet and cool completely. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the crab meat. Refrigerate until firm.
• Form the mixture into 12 fat, hamburger-shaped cakes. Sprinkle a baking sheet with ½ cup of bread crumbs. Beat the egg with the water in a shallow bowl. Spread the flour and remaining breadcrumbs on separate plates. Coat each cake in flour, then in the egg, then in the breadcrumbs and place on the baking sheet.
• Heat 1 inch of vegetable oil in a large heavy frying pan over medium-high heat. Without overcrowding, fry the crab cakes until they are golden brown on both sides. Remove and drain on absorbent paper. Keep the cooked crab cakes warm in a 200 F oven while frying the rest. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• For the pickled celery: Stir together the vinegar, salt and sugar in a small bowl. Add celery sticks, as many as can be covered with the solution. Cover and let cool 1 hour.
• For the crab cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a bowl add hot sauce, mayonnaise, mustard, lemon zest and juice. Mix thoroughly. Add scallion, parsley and 2 tablespoons finely chopped pickled celery (save the remainder for another use). Mix to incorporate. Add 1/2 cup panko. Mix.
• Add 1 pound crab meat, being careful not to break apart too much.
• Place the egg white and remaining 1/2 pound crab meat into a blender. Blend on high, until a smooth paste is achieved. Transfer to the bowl with the crab mixture.
• Mix to incorporate all. (Mixture should hold together when squeezed in hand. If very wet, add more panko.) Divide evenly into four portions and form into patties. Gently coat in the remaining panko. Set aside until ready to cook.
• Heat oil in an oven-safe saute pan until hot. Carefully add crab cakes to pan. Sear until well browned, 1 to 2 minutes, then flip and sear other side, 1 to 2 minutes more.
• Transfer pan to oven and bake for 7 to 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven and place crab cakes on a paper towel-lined plate.
• In mixing bowl, mix lettuces and Pepitas with champagne vinaigrette. Spoon 2 tablespoons Mustard Crema onto a serving plate. Divide salad among plates.
• Top each with crab cakes. Serve with lemon wedges.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, toss pumpkin seeds with oil and salt. Transfer to a baking sheet and bake until toasted, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Mix mascarpone, mustard and lemon zest and juice in a bowl until well mixed. Thin with heavy cream until desired consistency. (It should be spreadable and smooth.) Season with salt to taste. Reserve cold until ready to serve.

Steps:

• For the binding sauce: In a food processor, combine the mayonnaise, parsley leaves, lemon juice, capers, Dijon mustard, sweet pickle relish and green onions. Mix for about 1 minute.
• For the shrimp puree: In the clean bowl of the food processor, puree the prawns until smooth. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a mixing bowl, combine the shrimp puree with half the binding sauce. Mix well.
• For the remoulade: In the clean bowl of the food processor, combine the cocktail sauce, sun-dried tomatoes and hot sauce with the remainder of the binding sauce and blend for 1 minute until well mixed. Set aside.
• For the crab cakes: Fold all of the crab into the shrimp puree mixture. Mix in 3/4 cup panko. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
• In 3 separate bowls, place the beaten eggs, flour and remaining 1 cup panko. Divide the crab cake mixture into 6 balls. Form each ball into a cake that is approximately 1-inch thick, using a dry measuring cup as an aid. One at a time, dip each cake first into the flour, then the egg and then the panko. You may need a little more panko to get them well coated.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• In a large, ovenproof skillet, heat the butter over medium-high heat and brown the crab cakes evenly on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side. If the heat is too hot, adjust it down a little. Transfer the crab cakes to the oven and bake to cook through, about 10 minutes. Turn over as needed so the crab cakes do not brown too much on one side.
• Serve the hot crab cakes with the sun-dried tomato remoulade.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Drop in the crabs and cook until they stop moving, about 3-4 minutes.
• Remove the crabs from the pot and cool.
• When they are cool enough to handle, pull of and discard the top shell.
• Scrape the insides clean with a small spoon.
• Remove the spongy lungs on both sides of the body.
• With a heavy knife, cut the crabs in quarters and crack the claws; set aside.
• Heat a small frying pan over medium heat.
• Toast the coriander seeds and peppercorns, stirring constantly, for 1 minute, then grind finely in a spice mill or coffee grinder.
• Place in a bowl and add the paprika, cayenne and turmeric; set aside.
• Heat the oil over medium heat in a frying pan or pot that will be able to accommodate the crab pieces.
• Fry the black mustard seeds until they pop.
• Add the onions and garlic and cook until lightly browned.
• Stir in the spice mixture and the water.
• Bring to a boil, and then simmer until the mixture is reduced by half.
• Add the coconut milk and bring to boil.
• Season with salt and add the crab.
• Cook for 5 minutes, turning the pieces over to ensure even cooking.
• Remove from the heat and serve.