Crista’s Cornmeal-Crusted Crab Cakes

  4.0 – 1 reviews  • Shellfish Recipes
Level: Intermediate
Total: 2 hr 5 min
Active: 1 hr 10 min
Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

  1. 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  2. 2 shallots, thinly sliced
  3. 1 pound fresh Dungeness lump crabmeat, picked (high-quality canned if fresh not available)
  4. 1/2 cup gluten-free cracker crumbs
  5. 1/2 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
  6. 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
  7. Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  8. 1 large egg
  9. 1/4 cup creme fraiche
  10. 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  11. 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  12. 1 cup coarse grind yellow cornmeal
  13. 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  14. 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
  15. 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  16. 1 teaspoon seafood seasoning
  17. 1/4 teaspoon celery salt
  18. 1 large (1 1/2- to 2-pound) celery root, peeled
  19. 2 Pink Lady apples, unpeeled
  20. 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  21. 2/3 cup mayonnaise, or more as needed
  22. 1/2 cup creme fraiche
  23. 1 tablespoon Louisiana-style hot sauce
  24. 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh tarragon
  25. 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  26. 2 teaspoons coarse salt, or more to taste
  27. Freshly ground black pepper
  28. 2 tablespoons olive oil
  29. 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  30. 1 pound pea shoots
  31. 1 bunch breakfast radishes, sliced paper thin
  32. 3 tablespoons olive oil
  33. Juice of 2 lemons
  34. 1 to 2 teaspoons whole mustard seeds, optional
  35. Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. For the crab cakes: Place a medium cast-iron pan over medium heat. Add the butter and shallots and sweat until softened and just starting to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.
  2. Meanwhile, combine the crab, cracker crumbs, parsley, dill, softened shallots and a sprinkle of salt and pepper in a bowl. Set aside. Mix the egg, creme fraiche, mayonnaise and Dijon in a medium bowl until combined. Slowly add the wet ingredients to the crab and mix well until incorporated. Form 6 equal sized balls and flatten into discs.
  3. For the dredge: In a bowl, combine the cornmeal, smoked paprika, white pepper, salt, seafood seasoning and celery salt. Gently coat the exterior of each crab cake disc in the cornmeal mixture and place on a tray. Chill the crab cakes in the refrigerator for approximately 1 hour or up to 4 hours to help them stay together while cooking.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  5. For the celery root remoulade: Meanwhile, thinly slice the celery root and apples on a mandoline and cut into matchsticks. Place both in a large bowl and cover with the lemon juice to coat so they do not brown or oxidize. In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, creme fraiche, hot sauce, tarragon, Dijon and salt, then season with the pepper. Add the creme fraiche mixture to the celery root and apples and gently toss to combine. (For a thinner sauce, feel free to add more mayonnaise and adjust seasoning.)
  6. In a 12-inch cast-iron skillet on medium heat, then add the olive oil and butter and heat until hot. Place the crab cakes in the skillet and sear to crispy, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer the cast iron to the oven for 5 minutes to warm through.
  7. For the pea shoot salad: Add the pea shoots and radishes to a medium bowl. Drizzle with the olive oil and lemon juice to coat. Add the mustard seeds, then season with salt and pepper and mix gently.
  8. Spread a generous amount of remoulade on a platter. Place the crab cakes on top and garnish with the salad.

 

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