Copycat Chart Houses Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes Recipes

THE BEST CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the crab cakes: Gently fold together the crabmeat, breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, chives, Dijon mustard, seafood seasoning, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper and the juice and zest of one lemon in a large bowl. Refrigerate the crab mixture for 15 minutes to firm up; this allows the breadcrumbs to absorb some of the liquid, helping the crab cakes bind together.
• Meanwhile, make the tartar sauce: Combine the mayonnaise, dill pickles, capers, chives, zest and juice of 1 lemon in a medium bowl and mix until combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Scoop heaping half cups of the crab mixture and pat into 2 1/2-inch wide patties. Lightly press them together so they do not fall apart while cooking. You should have 8 patties.
• Heat 3 tablespoons unsalted butter and 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the crab cakes to the pan and cook until golden, about 2 minutes, then flip using a flat metal spatula. Continue to cook until lightly golden, about 1 1/2 minutes then transfer the pan to the oven. Cook until the crab cakes are completely heated through, about 10 minutes.
• Serve the crab cakes with the tartar sauce and lemon wedges.

JUMBO LUMP CRABCAKES WITH SWEET CORN AND JALAPEñO

Steps:

• Place the crabmeat in a bowl, breaking it up as little as possible. In a separate bowl, combine the onion, bell pepper, mayonnaise, mustard, capers, egg, horseradish, salt, pepper, and seafood seasoning. Mix well, add the crabmeat, and fold together, again, taking care not to break up the crabmeat.
• Shape the crabcakes. If you wish, you can roughly shape them by hand before placing the mixture in metal rings or round cookie cutters, each about 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Or you can place the rings on a flat surface, put 2 1/2 to 3 ounces of the mixture in each ring, and press lightly on each cake.
• Preheat a nonstick pan or a seasoned cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter, but don't let it smoke. Using your finger and a small spatula, guide about four of the rings into the skillet. Cook the crabcakes for 1 1/2 minutes, or until golden brown. Turn them over, using the spatula, and cook again for 1 1/2 minutes or until golden brown. Using the spatula, move the cakes to a sheet pan, and remove the rings. Repeat until the entire mixture is used. About halfway through, discard the butter and use a second tablespoonful.
• To make the corn accompaniment: Place a sauté pan over medium heat, and add 1/2 tablespoon of butter. Be careful not to let the butter burn. Place the corn and jalapeño in the pan, and stir constantly, seasoning with salt and pepper. When the corn is hot (1 1/2 to 2 minutes), stir in the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter and add the minced thyme. Cook until all the butter has melted. Season to taste.
• Serve one crabcake for an appetizer portion, two for an entrée. Spoon some of the corn mixture over the top of each cake, sprinkle with green onions, and garnish, if desired, with thyme springs.

JUMBO LUMP CRAB CAKES WITH CARROT BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Put the crab in a mixing bowl and set aside. Combine the butter and shallot in a small pot over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the Old Bay, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, the mustard, and cayenne. Stir to combine. Remove from the heat and whisk in the cream. Pour the butter mixture over the crab. Add the scallions. Fold the ingredients together gently but thoroughly, taking care not to mash the crabmeat. The mixture will look almost runny; don't worry, it will firm up in the fridge. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour; overnight is even better.
• When ready to cook, use your hands to form the mixture into 6 crab cakes that are 1 1/2 inches thick. They should be moist and just hold together. Put the crab cakes on a plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate while setting up your breading station. This allows the flavors to blend and the crab cakes to set.
• To create a breading station, put the flour in a pie plate and season with salt and pepper. Crack the egg into a shallow bowl, add 1 tablespoon water, and beat with a fork until frothy. Put the bread crumbs in another shallow bowl.
• Put a large skillet over medium heat, add a couple tablespoons of the oil, and swirl the pan around to coat the bottom. Working with 3 crab cakes at a time (keep the remaining cakes in the fridge), lightly dredge both sides of the cakes in the seasoned flour, dip into the beaten egg, and then coat completely with bread crumbs. Gently lay the cakes in the hot oil and brown for 3 to 4 minutes on each side (turning only once or they will break up). Drain on paper towels. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil, and repeat with the remaining 3 crab cakes.
• To serve, pool 1/4 cup of the carrot butter sauce on each of 6 plates, set a crab cake in the center, and, if you like, put a pile of sprouts on top.
• Carrot Butter Sauce
• Combine the carrot juice, carrot, shallot, and salt in a small pot over medium-low heat. Simmer until the carrot is completely soft and mushy, 10 minutes. The liquid will reduce almost, but not quite, by half.
• Stir in the cream and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes to combine. It will look kind of a mess, a bit grainy and separated, but not to worry.
• Remove from the heat. Whisk in the butter a few chunks at a time; all of a sudden, the sauce will come together. Pour the sauce into a blender and hold a kitchen towel over the top for safety. Buzz until completely smooth and a beautiful sunset color appears. Serve hot.

JUMBO LUMP CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°.
• Lightly brush 9x13" pan with olive oil.
• Pick through crab meat, removing any cartilage and place in a medium bowl.
• In a small bowl, mix mustard, egg and mayonnaise. Being careful not to break up the lumps, fold gently into the crab meat.
• Handling lightly, pat into four large cakes.
• Place into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven, turning once halfway through cooking time of 8-10 minutes, until golden.