Dungeness Crab Cakes With Green Cocktail Sauce Recipes

THIERRY'S DUNGENESS CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Make the cakes: put the crabmeat on a cutting board and chop it into small pieces-no piece of crab should be larger than the size of a pea (it is important to chop the crab so you get a nice tight pack in the mold without air spaces).
• Transfer crabmeat to a bowl; add in garlic, shallots, chives, basil, and pepper to taste.
• Set 4 ring molds on a work surface; divide crab mixture among molds, packing the crab as tightly as you can into each mold with your fingers or the back of a spoon.
• Put the bread crumbs on a plate; leaving the crabmeat in the mold, use a spoon to generously spread an even layer of egg wash on the crabmeat.
• Turn the mold upside down (egg-washed side down) onto the plate of bread crumbs.
• If the crabmeat is not even with the edge of the mold on both sides, push down on the crabmeat with your fingers so the egg-washed side makes contact with the bread crumbs.
• Generously spoon the egg wash over the unbreaded side of the mold, and turn the mold upside down again to bread-crumb the other side, pushing down on the crabmeat if needed to make contact with the crumbs.
• Both top and bottom sides of the crabmeat in the mold should be evenly covered with a layer of egg wash and crumbs; set the mold aside and repeat with the remaining molds.
• Set a large nonstick skillet over med-high heat; add in the oil; when skillet is hot, pick up a mold and place in the pan, then use your fingers to carefully push the crab cake out of the mold, removing the mold from the pan.
• Repeat with the remaining molds; cook the crab cakes until browned on the first side, about 1 minute, then very carefully turn them over, using a spatula, and brown the second side, about 1 minute.
• Set out 4 plates and set a crab cake on each plate; suggested to serve with Clam Aioli ladled around each cake, sprinkled with chives.

DUNGENESS CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Break up the dungeness crab meat.
• Add peppers, celery, scallions, and spices. Add mayonnaise.
• Combine in bowl to form paste, then add eggs and bread crumbs to thicken.
• Form into round crab cakes.
• Deep fry or sauté in olive oil.
• Serve crab cakes with greens and balsamic vinaigrette.

SAFFRON SALMON'S DUNGENESS CRAB CAKES

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.

DUNGENESS CRAB CAKES WITH GREEN COCKTAIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the cocktail sauce: put tomatillos in a food processor; process until coarsely pureed.
• Remove the puree into a sieve; drain off the liquid, and discard.
• Put the drained puree into a small bowl and stir in the vinegar, sugar, Tabasco, garlic, mustard seeds, and horseradish until combined (the cocktail sauce can be made a day ahead and kept covered in the refrigerator).
• Make the mayonnaise: tear up the white bread and pulse the pieces in a food processor to make fine, soft crumbs (should have about 6 cups crumbs).
• Remove bread crumbs to a shallow pan; mix in ½ cup chopped parsley; set aside.
• In a food processor, combine the egg yolk, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, mustard, paprika, thyme, celery seeds, and black pepper; pulse to combine.
• With the motor running, slowly add the oil through the feed tube in a steady stream until the mixture emulsifies and forms a mayonnaise; remove mayonnaise from the food processor and refrigerate.
• Place crabmeat in a cheesecloth-lined sieve over a bowl; pull the cheesecloth tightly around the crabmeat and squeeze out as much juice as possible.
• Put the chopped onions and bell peppers in a sieve over a bowl and use your hands to squeeze out as much juice as possible.
• In a big bowl, combine the onions and bell peppers with the remaining ¼ cup parsley; add in the chilled mayonnaise and crabmeat; toss lightly to combine.
• Add 1 cup of the breadcrumb mixture and combine.
• Do not overwork the mixture or the crabcakes may get gummy.
• Gently form 8 patties and roll the patties lightly in the remaining breadcrumb mixture.
• Leave the crabcakes in the pan of bread crumbs until you saute them.
• Preheat the oven to 425°; using a nonstick saute pan and butter as needed, panfry the crabcakes, in batches, until golden brown on both sides and place them on a baking sheet as they are browned.
• When all the crabcakes are browned, put them in the oven until they are heated all the way through, 5-8 minutes.
• To plate: serve one crabcake as an appetizer or two as an entree; serve with a ramekin of cocktail sauce and a lemon wedge.
• **Note-the crabcakes actually hold together better if prepared a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator before cooking; store them in the pan of breadcrumbs, covering with plastic wrap.
• Wine suggestion-a lightly oaked Chardonnay.