ASIAN-STYLE CRAB CAKES WITH WASABI CAPER SAUCE

Asian-Style Crab Cakes with Wasabi Caper Sauce image

Provided by Peter Tulaney

Yield Makes 4 main-course servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

For wasabi caper sauce
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons drained bottled capers, chopped
2 to 3 teaspoons wasabi paste* (Japanese horseradish paste)
For crab cakes
2 tablespoons finely chopped leek (white part only)
1 whole large egg plus 1 yolk
1 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise
3/4 teaspoon spicy Chinese mustard*
1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped (1/3 cup)
1/2 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger
1 1/2 cups panko* (Japanese bread crumbs)
1 lb jumbo lump crabmeat, picked over
About 2 cups vegetable oil
Special Equipment
a deep-fat thermometer

Steps:

Make wasabi caper sauce:
Stir together all sauce ingredients and chill, covered, until ready to use.
Make crab cakes:
Wash leek well in a bowl of cold water, agitating leek, then lift out and drain.
Whisk together whole egg, yolk, mayonnaise, and mustard in a large bowl, then stir in bell pepper, leek, ginger, and 3/4 cup panko. Stir in crabmeat and chill, covered, 1 hour. Divide mixture into 8 mounds and form into 8 (1-inch-thick) patties. Spread remaining 3/4 cup panko in a shallow dish, then carefully coat patties, 1 at a time, in panko.
Heat 3/4 inch oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until it registers 350°F on thermometer. (Adjust heat as necessary; see cooks' note, below.) Fry crab cakes in 2 batches, turning over once, until golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes per batch. Transfer to several layers of paper towels to drain. Return oil to 350°F between batches. Serve crab cakes with sauce.
*Available at Asian markets and Uwajimaya (800-889-1928).