Annapolis Crab Cakes Recipes

REAL MARYLAND CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Combine breadcrumbs, egg, mayonnaise, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and crab seasoning and mix well.
• Pour mixture over crabmeat and fold in taking care not to break up the lumps.
• Form into six cakes and pat until just firm, then deep fry in 350°F corn oil 2-3 minutes until golden brown.

MARYLAND JUMBO LUMP CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Set the oven to low broil and place the oven rack near the top.
• In a medium-sized bowl, carefully pick through the crab meat to remove any shells. Try not to break up the lumps. Be as thorough as possible.
• In a separate bowl, whisk the egg and then add in the mayonnaise until combined.
• Add the breadcrumbs and stir to combine. Add the Old Bay, fines herbs and garlic powder. Add the mustard and Worcestershire sauce, stir until well combined.
• Gently stir the wet mixture into the crab meat, one spoonful at a time. This part takes some patience because you really want to avoid breaking up the lump meat as much as possible.
• Carefully form 5-6 crab cakes.
• Lightly grease the bottom of a baking sheet (cooking spray works well for this) and place the crab cakes on the sheet. Place a small piece of butter on top of each crab cake.
• Broil on low for 12-15 minutes, keeping a close eye to make sure they don't burn. Don't flip them, just allow them to cook on one side the entire time (the lack of filler makes them very delicate). If the tops seem like they're going to burn, lower the oven rack. You're not cooking the meat but you want the filling to solidify and the egg to cook through.
• If you want the tops a bit more golden, switch the broiler to the high setting for the last minute or so.
• When the tops are golden brown, remove the pan from the oven and allow the crab cakes to cool slightly before serving.
• I recommend serving them with Saltine crackers and dijon mustard. They also make a great sandwich.

MARYLAND CRAB CAKES RECIPE (LITTLE FILLER)

Steps:

• Whisk the egg, mayonnaise, parsley, dijon mustard, worcestershire sauce, Old Bay, lemon juice, and salt together in a large bowl. Place the crab meat on top, followed by the cracker crumbs. With a rubber spatula or large spoon, very gently and carefully fold together. You don't want to break up that crab meat!
• Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C). Generously grease a rimmed baking sheet with butter or nonstick spray or line with a silicone baking mat.
• Using a 1/2 cup measuring cup, portion the crab cake mixture into 6 mounds on the baking sheet. (Don't flatten!) Use your hands or a spoon to compact each individual mound so there aren't any lumps sticking out or falling apart. For extra flavor, brush each with melted butter. This is optional but recommended!
• Bake for 12-14 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges and on top. Drizzle each with fresh lemon juice and serve warm.
• Cover leftover crab cakes tightly and refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY MARYLAND CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, Hand pick Crabmeat and discard any shell particles.
• Add Salt and Pepper (You can alter to taste but for best results don't.
• alter the Pepper.) In another bowl mix all wet ingredients. Gently fold.
• mixture into crabmeat. Add baking powder, and parsley. On a plate,
• place your crushed saltines and scoop a medium sized crab cake from.
• your mixture in your hands. Coat with cracker again just enough to cover.
• your cake. In a skillet heat Vegtable Oil for frying (preferably cast iron pan).
• gently place crab cakes in frying temperature oil and brown evenly on both sides. Be careful that your oil is not to hot and should not be smoking.
• Crab Cakes are ready when brown on both sides usuallly a few minutes per side. DO NOT overcook. Drain on paper towels, and serve immediately.

THE DRUNK CHEF'S HOMETOWN MARYLAND CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Make these patties 1/2 hour to 1 hour before you want to cook them and let them set up in the fridge covered with a piece of plastic wrap.
• Note that the dried slices of bread ARE going into the mix while the bread crumbs ARE NOT. Right before frying- coat the cakes lightly with the breadcrumbs on each side.
• Gather all your ingredients and 2 large mixing bowls. If you have a large wooden spoon- use that; if not- put it on your shopping list. Mince your onion and chop your parsley. Chop your sliced bread up in small cubes. Beat your egg. Chop your claw meat into 1 square centimeter cubes (or just tear into pieces).
• In one bowl: mix onion, bread, and milk. Then add: mayo, dijon, worcestershire sauce, egg. Mix well.
• Make sure there's no moisture in your second bowl so the seasonings don't stick. In your second bowl: Place your crab meat in bowl. Season evenly with the black pepper, parsley, and Old Bay seasoning.
• Add the seasoned crab meat to the mixture in the first bowl and mix together gently. You paid extra for those big claw portions so don't go smashing them all up when your mixing.
• Form the mixture into crab cakes as big or as small as you like them and place them on something flat that can fit in the fridge ( I use a hard plastic cutting board). Spray the cutting board very lightly with cooking spray to keep the cakes from sticking while in the fridge. Cover with plastic and put in fridge for 1/2 - 1 hour.
• If you are frying your cakes (recommended) I would use Canola Oil in your pan. If you are broiling- I recommend coating the baking sheet with Olive Oil and also drizzling just a little Olive Oil over the tops of your cakes.
• Pour your breadcrumbs on a dinner plate and coat each side of your crab cakes lightly with them.
• Heat the Canola Oil in your pan over a medium-high heat. When the oil starts putting off a little smoke it should be ready. You want to hear a little sizzle when you drop your crab cakes in the pan- that's how you know your oil is at a good frying temperature.
• Once you have your crab cakes in the pan- give them a minute to just sit- undisturbed. After about a minute- gently start shaking your pan- you want to see some movement in the pan to ensure they're not burning. Make sure they're not cooking too fast- if you start to smell a burn coming on- lift the pan off the heat and flip the cakes- reduce heat and return pan to stove.
• The method I use for cooking a perfect crab cake is simple- my fingers. Tilt your pan just enough to move the oil down to one side of the pan- feel around the bottom of one of the cakes at the top of the pan. The cakes are ready to be flipped when they begin to crisp around the bottom edges. If you have more sensitive fingers (like normal people) just simply use a slotted spatula to lift the cakes out of the pan and look at the bottom of the cake- when it's nice and golden-brown you can flip them.
• Don't depend on a timer to cook when pan frying because that's not always reliable. Use your eyes and your fingers.
• Take a big dollop of Tar Tar sauce in the middle of a plate. Take a spoon and push down in the middle of the dollop and lightly spread in circles to make a perfect little bed for your crab cake. Place your crab cake on its bed and serve with your favorite sides.
• I'll add a recipe for Tar Tar sauce sometime soon. For now- just use your favorite.