Description
Classic Maryland-style crab cakes packed with lump crab meat, lightly bound with panko and seasoned with Old Bay, Dijon mustard, and parsley, served with a quick homemade tartar sauce.
Ingredients
For the Crab Cakes:
2 large eggs
2½ tablespoons mayonnaise (best quality)
1½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup finely diced celery (from one stalk)
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
1 pound lump crab meat (checked for cartilage)
½ cup panko breadcrumbs
Vegetable or canola oil, for cooking
For the Quick Tartar Sauce:
1 cup mayonnaise (best quality)
1½ tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon minced red onion
1–2 tablespoons lemon juice, to taste
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with foil. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay, salt, celery, and parsley.
- Add crab meat and panko, then gently fold until just combined.
- Shape mixture into 6 cakes (about ½ cup each) and place on prepared sheet. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
- Heat a large nonstick pan over medium heat with oil. Cook crab cakes 3–5 minutes per side until golden brown. Serve warm with tartar sauce.
- For tartar sauce, mix mayonnaise, relish, Dijon mustard, onion, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper; chill until ready to serve.
Notes
- For baked crab cakes, cook at 450°F for 12–14 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Add hot sauce or cayenne for a spicy version.
- Try dill or chives instead of parsley.
- Make mini crab cakes for appetizers and reduce cooking time.
- Use gluten-free panko for a gluten-free version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus 1 hour chilling)
- Cook Time: 6–10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Seared
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 crab cake with tartar sauce
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 710mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 95mg