Best Pier 23 Dungeness Crab Cake Recipes

DUNGENESS CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg, mayo, lemon juice, herbs and salt. Add ¼ cup of the panko bread crumbs to the egg mixture. Once well combined, gently fold in the crab. Put the remaining panko on a plate, to dredge the crab cakes.
• Make a quick tester for seasoning. Take a spoonful of the crab mixture, and make a mini crab cake. Dip the cake lightly into the panko on both sides. Heat a drizzle of olive in a skillet (nonstick is great for this, if you have one). Once the oil is hot, add the tester cake and cook on both sides until golden, just a couple minutes in total. Test and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more salt or lemon, etc.
• Form the crab patties out of the crab mixture, roughly 1½ inches by ¾ inch. About 14 in total. Dredge in panko, and refrigerate for at least an hour to firm up (this keeps them from falling apart).
• If you have a nonstick skillet, this is a great time to use it. Either way, heat 1 or 2 tablespoons of oil in a medium skillet, enough to coat the bottom. When oil is hot, add the cakes, turning after a couple of minutes when golden brown. Wipe the skillet with a paper towel between batches, so the panko doesn't burn.
• with lemon wedges.

PACIFIC NW CIOPPINO WITH ROCKFISH, SALMON, MUSSELS AND DUNGENESS CRAB CAKE

Steps:

• Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat and add the clarified butter; once hot, add the salmon and rockfish and cook 1 minute 30 seconds per side, reducing heat if necessary to avoid burning. Working quickly, add the white wine and mussels and cover the pan. Check mussels after 1 minute to see if they have opened, then cover and continue to cook for another minute if not. Uncover and add Cioppino. Cook until sauce is warm through, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl, topped with Crab Cake and garnished with parsley.
• Heat an 8- to 10-quart stockpot over medium heat; add the oil. Add the carrot, celery and onion and stir to coat in oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are cooked through but not falling apart, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the garlic puree, oregano, chile flakes, fennel seed, marjoram and thyme, and stir to coat; cook for 2 minutes. Turn the heat up to medium-high, then add clam broth, diced tomato, tomato sauce, tomato paste, red wine, basil, sugar, red wine vinegar, anchovy paste, lemon juice and bay leaves. Stir well to combine. Turn the heat down to low when it starts to bubble. Simmer, stirring occasionally so the bottom of the stockpot does not scorch, for 2 hours. Can be served immediately, or cooled completely and refrigerated to use within 3 days or frozen up to 3 months.
• Heat a large saute pan over medium heat; add the butter and onions. Sweat the onions until translucent in color and soft but not falling apart, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool.
• Meanwhile, combine the red pepper, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, seafood seasoning, hot sauce, eggs and the cooled onions in a large mixing bowl; stir to combine. Gently, working with your hands, mix in Dungeness crab and then 1/2 cup panko. Don't overwork the mixture; you want it to still have larger pieces of crab intact. Refrigerate 10 to 20 minutes.
• Portion the mixture into 3-ounce balls and roll them in a bowl containing the remaining 1 cup panko. Shape the cakes using either a 2-inch ring mold or by hand by sprinkling about 1 tablespoon panko onto a clean work surface and gently pressing the ball into a cake shape. Sprinkle a small amount of panko on top of the crab cake and gently press it into the cake. Press in the sides of the cake to repair any cracks or tears so it does not fall apart during the cooking process. (You can make the cakes up to 24 hours ahead of when you plan on cooking and serving. They hold well refrigerated in an airtight container with parchment paper in between them if you are going to stack them.)
• Deep fry crab cakes in canola oil at 350 degrees F until crispy and golden brown, about 2 minutes, or pan-fry in about 1/2 inch oil until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. You can also cook on a griddle or in a saute pan on medium to medium-high heat in about a teaspoon of cooking oil or butter each until a golden brown crust develops, 4 to 5 minutes per side.

SAFFRON SALMON'S DUNGENESS CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• For the binding sauce: In a food processor, combine the mayonnaise, parsley leaves, lemon juice, capers, Dijon mustard, sweet pickle relish and green onions. Mix for about 1 minute.
• For the shrimp puree: In the clean bowl of the food processor, puree the prawns until smooth. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a mixing bowl, combine the shrimp puree with half the binding sauce. Mix well.
• For the remoulade: In the clean bowl of the food processor, combine the cocktail sauce, sun-dried tomatoes and hot sauce with the remainder of the binding sauce and blend for 1 minute until well mixed. Set aside.
• For the crab cakes: Fold all of the crab into the shrimp puree mixture. Mix in 3/4 cup panko. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
• In 3 separate bowls, place the beaten eggs, flour and remaining 1 cup panko. Divide the crab cake mixture into 6 balls. Form each ball into a cake that is approximately 1-inch thick, using a dry measuring cup as an aid. One at a time, dip each cake first into the flour, then the egg and then the panko. You may need a little more panko to get them well coated.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• In a large, ovenproof skillet, heat the butter over medium-high heat and brown the crab cakes evenly on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side. If the heat is too hot, adjust it down a little. Transfer the crab cakes to the oven and bake to cook through, about 10 minutes. Turn over as needed so the crab cakes do not brown too much on one side.
• Serve the hot crab cakes with the sun-dried tomato remoulade.

DUNGENESS CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Break up the dungeness crab meat.
• Add peppers, celery, scallions, and spices. Add mayonnaise.
• Combine in bowl to form paste, then add eggs and bread crumbs to thicken.
• Form into round crab cakes.
• Deep fry or sauté in olive oil.
• Serve crab cakes with greens and balsamic vinaigrette.