Holy crab!! I’m a crab cake girl through and through. If they’re on the menu, they’re mine. I like ’em big and and I like ’em lumpy. Hold the filler, hold the outer breading and give me pan fried and a delicious remoulade, please!! I feel like I’ve spent a good portion of my life…
Eating crab cakes that it makes me at worst a connoisseur, at best a PhD in the science behind these little patties of joy. I have the kind of expertise that only comes from hours of pouring oneself into a topic, knowing every detail, every tasty nook, every flavor possibility. Blah, ok, maybe that’s a bit much. Maybe.
Ok, I need to be straight with you for a second. There was one time I passed up a crab cake. I was sixteen and had my first boyfriend. My mom had bought the most amazing crab cakes (my favorite brand at the time) for dinner. Problem was, said boyfriend was coming over post-dinner to hang and I was convinced the crabbiness would linger and the smell would be irreversible. Crab cakes did not provide the minty freshness I was going for no matter how many times I brushed my teeth. So, I said “Sorry mom, I’m not in the mood for a crab cake,” acting as casual about it as possible. I ate something I deemed less smelly and have regretted it ever since. Boyfriends come and go, crab cake memories are forever.
Moral of the the story is was “Crab lumps before humps” but Jaryd just nixed that motto and said it was a bit of a stretch. For the record, there was zero humping, everything G rated, I swear!
But seriously, crab cakes are where it’s at. Only problem is you need to find a recipe that keeps the lumps and cakes in tact, while minimizing the binding filler. Plus you need some tasty flavor!! Well let me say this, and I’m not just saying this to say it, or saying it because this is my blog and a recipe I’m publishing. I’m saying it because I one hundred percent mean it. This is the best crab cake I’ve ever had and and AND this crab cake will now be the gold standard that I compare all other crab cakes to.
So there it is.
I know this recipe has a lot of ingredients, but it really only has a few steps to the whole shebang. Ok, now on to the how of this whole process. Here’s what you do:
In a food processor, combine all the remoulade ingredients. Blend until combined. Place in a container and set it aside in the fridge until you are ready for serving.
In a small bowl, place the arrowroot flour, Old Bay seasoning, dry ground mustard, and salt. Stir to mix it all together and set aside.
In a larger bowl, place the egg, mayo, and Worcestershire. Whisk to combine.
Gently fold the dry ingredients into the egg mixture.
Mix in the peppers and scallion.
Finally, fold in the lump crab as gently as possible. Folding it in gingerly allows the lumps to stay in tact. Gently gently gently! Place in the fridge for about an hour.
Drop some coconut oil in a skillet over high heat until the oil is hot. Keep heat at medium high and place two crab balls into the pan. You may need to re-shape them into balls before cooking them. Most of mine stayed in tact, but one or two needed some lumps pressed back in. Just re-shape them with your hands if needed.
Let the ball fry for about a minute. Then, with the bottom side of your spatula, slowly press the ball down to create a cake. Fry for a couple more minutes, and then gently flip.
If you haven’t noticed, the buzzword for this recipe is GENTLY.
Fry the other side for a few minutes and then remove from the pan onto a plate lined with a paper towel. Follow this process for the remaining crab balls.
This makes six large crab cakes.
Crab Cakes with Horseradish Sriracha Remoulade
I order crab cakes off any menu I see them on, and these Pan-Fried Lump Crab Cakes + Spicy Remoulade are the BEST I’ve ever eaten!
Ingredients
Remoulade
- 1 shallot
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon horseradish
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
Crab Cakes
- 2 tablespoons arrowroot flour (or whole wheat flour)
- 1/2 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dry ground mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 scallion, chopped
- 1/4 red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 lb. lump crab meat
- 2 tablespoons refined coconut oil, for frying
Instructions
- In a food processor, combine all the remoulade ingredients. Blend until combined. Place in a container in the fridge until you are ready for serving.
- In a small bowl, place the arrowroot flour, Old Bay seasoning, dry mustard, and salt. Stir to mix it all together. Set aside.
- In a larger bowl, place the egg, mayo, and Worcestershire. Whisk to combine.
- Gently fold the dry ingredients into the egg mixture.
- Mix in the peppers and scallion.
- Finally, fold in the lump crab as gently as possible. Folding it in gingerly allows the lumps to stay in tact. You do want a mix of larger lumps and some smaller lumps, so if you only have large lumps, break a few apart so they can help the mixture hold together when formed into balls. If you only have large lumps, the cakes will have a hard time coming together.
- Chill in the fridge for about an hour.
- Place coconut oil in a skillet over high heat until the oil is hot. Keep heat at medium-high.
- Form two packed crab balls with your hands and place them in the pan. Let the balls fry for about a minute. Then, with the bottom side of your spatula, slowly press the ball down to create a thick cake. Fry for a couple more minutes, and then gently flip.
- Fry the other side for a few minutes and then remove from the pan onto a plate lined with a paper towel. Follow this process for the remaining crab balls.
- Serve with the remoulade.
Tips
- Nutrition facts below are per crab cake
- Makes six large, deliciously amazing crab cakes!!
- If you don’t have arrowroot flour and you can tolerate it, you can use whole wheat flour.
Recipe inspired by Host the Toast. Enjoy!! xo
Carly Nash says
We are newly gf and I’m still learning what works. Which type of flower would you recommend in place of whole wheat?
Lindsay says
Hi Carly!
I would replace it with arrowroot flour or tapioca starch. I think it needs something a bit sticky to hold it together, so I don’t think you can leave it out completely. You could also try for almond flour. I don’t think it’ll work as well, but worth a shot! This is definitely a recipe I want to play around with to get that gluten free option so I’ll for sure keep you posted! I’d love to hear if anything works for you as well! Good luck!! xo
Dee says
These were BOMB!!! I didn’t have horseradish but the remoulade didn’t even miss it. I served them with micro greens and avocado and my tummy is so happy!!! Thank you so much for a gluten free option!
Lindsay Grimes Freedman says
I’m so happy you loved them!! Crab cakes are the best! xo