Classic Crab Cakes

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/sB3NXSTvUhc

🦀 Classic Crab Cakes

This recipe yields tender, flavorful crab cakes. The optional egg can be used to help bind the mixture if your lump crab meat is especially moist.

Preparation Details

• Yields: 10 Servings
• Prep Time: 10 Minutes
• Cook Time: 8 Minutes

🥣 Ingredients

• 2 lbs. Lump crab meat (drained and picked through for shells)
• 3 stalks Celery (finely chopped)
• 2 cups Yellow onion (finely chopped)
• 1 clove Garlic (minced)
• ¾ lb. Unsalted butter (divided for cooking vegetables and clarifying)
• 8 Green onions (chopped)
• ½ cup Mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp. Italian parsley (fresh, chopped)
• 4 oz. Italian breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp. Tarragon (dried)
• ¼ tsp. Thyme (dried)
• 1 tsp. Granulated garlic
• Salt & black pepper (to taste)
• 2 Eggs (Optional: for binding)
• Flour (for dredging, approx. 1/2 cup)

📝 Instructions

Step 1: Sauté the Aromatics

1. Prep the Vegetables: Finely chop the celery, yellow onion, green onion, garlic, and parsley.
2. In a large skillet, melt approximately 6 tbsp. of the unsalted butter over medium-high heat.
3. Add the chopped celery, yellow onion, and minced garlic. Cook until the vegetables are tender and the onion is a light golden color.

Step 2: Prepare the Crab Mixture

4. Remove the skillet from the heat. Transfer the sautéed vegetables to a very large mixing bowl and allow them to cool down completely.
5. Once the vegetables are cool, gently add the lump crab meat, chopped green onion, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, chopped parsley, Italian breadcrumbs, tarragon, thyme, and granulated garlic.
6. Season generously with salt and black pepper to taste. If using, add the 2 optional eggs now.
7. Mix the ingredients thoroughly but gently, taking care not to break up the crab lumps too much.

Step 3: Form and Dredge the Patties

8. Form the mixture into 10 uniform patties (crab cakes).
9. Prepare the Clarified Butter: Melt the remaining 1/2 lb. of unsalted butter and clarify it (remove the milk solids).
10. Lightly coat a shallow dish with flour. Dredge each crab cake patty in the flour, ensuring an even and light coating on all sides.

Step 4: Cook the Crab Cakes

11. Heat the clarified butter in a large skillet over medium heat until hot but not smoking.
12. Carefully place the crab cakes in the hot skillet (do not overcrowd).
13. Cook for about 3–4 minutes per side, or until they are golden-brown and heated through.

Step 5: Serve

14. Serve immediately. These are delicious with a side of cocktail sauce or tartar sauce.