Dungeness Crabcakes 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 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.

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.