recipe: crab cakes with homemade tartar sauce

Whenever my mom seems crab cakes on a menu she'll always order it because she knows it's good. They can be tricky to make and some people don't have the patience for them. I think I've also developed this same tendency to order crab cakes when I see them, although when I got a craving for them recently I decided to try making them myself. Of course I turned to Ina because as I always say, "Ina knows best." She provides the most straightforward recipes that turn out being majorly impressive and satisfying. This one is no exception! If you like crab cakes then you will definitely love these!

yellow and red peppers and celery ready to go!

crab cakes formed and ready to fry!

 weird looking but delicious, I promise!

Ina Garten's Crab Cakes (she made them bite sized, I made them humungous!} 

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3/4 cup small diced red onion (1 small onion)
• 1 1/2 cups small diced celery (4 stalks)
• 1/2 cup small diced red bell pepper (1 small pepper)
• 1/2 cup small diced yellow bell pepper (1 small pepper)
• 1/4 cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 tablespoon capers, drained
• 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (recommended: Tabasco)
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons crab boil seasoning (recommended: Old Bay)
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 pound lump crabmeat, drained and picked to remove shells
• 1/2 cup plain dry bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup good mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
• For frying
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup olive oil

Directions

Place the 2 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons oil, onion, celery, red and yellow bell peppers, parsley, capers, hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce, crab boil seasoning, salt, and pepper in a large saute pan over medium-low heat and cook until the vegetables are soft, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Cool to room temperature. In a large bowl, break the lump crabmeat into small pieces and toss with the bread crumbs, mayonnaise, mustard, and eggs. Add the cooked mixture and mix well. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Shape into bite-sized crab cakes.

Heat the butter and olive oil for frying over medium heat in a large saute pan. Add the crab cakes and fry for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, until browned. Drain on paper towels; keep them warm in a 250 degree oven and serve hot.

Tartar Sauce to go with it!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup good mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons small-diced pickles or cornichons
• 1 tablespoon Champagne or white wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon capers
• 1 teaspoon coarse-grained mustard
• Pinch kosher salt
• Pinch freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Place all the ingredients in a food processor or mini chopper fitted with a steel blade and pulse several times until the pickles are finely chopped and all the ingredients are well mixed but not pureed.

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Have a great weekend everyone! 

I'm spending a fun day with Matthew on Saturday and then Sunday morning I'm flying up to the Bay Area for a Ruche shoot. 

I'm so excited!

xox