Recipe: Crab cakes

Crab cakes are a delicious, elegant treat.  They make an impressive appetizer for a dinner party, but you don't need a special occasion. After all, who is more deserving than you?!  And they are much easier to make than you would think.  I promise!

One crab cake per person is a perfect appetizer; or two with a large side salad makes a great main course.  I made these with canned crab meat, but you can use frozen or fresh as well.

Makes 4 crab cakes.

Ingredients:

-1 can of crab meat, drained (170g net weight, 120g drained)
-1 rib celery, finely diced
-1/2 small onion, finely diced
-1/2 small red bell pepper, finely diced
-1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs, plus additional 1/4 cup
-2 tbsp mayonnaise
-1 tsp Dijon mustard
-1 egg, lightly beaten
-1/4 tsp hot sauce (any kind you like)
-1/4 tsp Old Bay Seasoning*
-1/4 tsp black pepper
-1/2 tsp salt

-1 tsp vegetable oil
-1 tbsp butter

• In a saucepan over medium heat, add vegetable oil with onions, celery and bell pepper.   Saute for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until translucent and soft.  Place in a medium bowl to cool for 5 minutes.  This can be done in advance.
• To the bowl, add crab meat, 1/2 cup of Panko, mayonaise, mustard, egg, hot suace, Old Bay, salt and pepper. Gently combine together.
• Divide mixture and make 4 cakes using your hand.  They should be about 1" thick, and roughly 3" in diameter.
• In a shallow dish add the reserved 1/4 cup of Panko.  Lightly coat both sides of the crab cakes with Panko.
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter with vegetable oil.
• Add crab cakes to the pan and cook for about 6 minutes per side.
• Serve immediately with a light salad and lemon dill garlic sauce.  If making crab cakes in advance, you can keep them warm in the oven at about 300F.

Lemon Dill Garlic Sauce:

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.  You can use fresh dill if you like.
-Juice of half a lemon
-2 tbsp mayonnaise
-1/2 tsp dried dill
-1/4 tsp black pepper
-1/2 small clove of garlic, finely minced

*If you can't find Old Bay Seasoning, you can substitute paprika.