CHEF JOHN FOLSE’S ULTIMATE CRAB CAKES

Prep Time: 1 Hour
Yields: 6 Servings

Comment:
Crabs are so plentiful along the Louisiana coast that you are certain to find this ingredient in everything from simple hors d’oeuvres to grand casseroles. Even with our 90°F heat and 100% humidity, Louisiana crab cakes often stand center stage at dinner parties. I have found that it is extremely important to refrigerate the crab cakes prior to cooking, because they will hold together much better.

Ingredients:
1 pound jumbo lump crabmeat
5 slices white bread, crust removed
¼ cup heavy-duty mayonnaise
1 egg
¼ tsp horseradish
¼ tsp minced garlic
¼ tsp Worcestershire sauce
¼ tsp mustard powder
¼ tsp Old Bay® Seasoning
¼ tsp Louisiana hot sauce
¼ cup chopped parsley
2 tbsps chopped tarragon
salt and cracked black pepper to taste

Method:
Gently pick through crabmeat, taking care not to break lumps, and discard any shells or cartilage. Set aside. In a food processor, pulse bread slices into coarse bread crumbs. Remove and set aside. In a bowl, combine all ingredients (except lump crabmeat and bread crumbs), mixing well to combine thoroughly. Gently fold crabmeat into the mixture then adjust seasonings to taste using salt and pepper. Add bread crumbs and incorporate well. The mixture will be extremely soft. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours. Mold crab mixture into 6 crab cakes that are ¾-inch thick. When ready to cook, preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a large oven-safe sauté pan with butter-flavored vegetable spray and heat over medium-high heat. Sauté crab cakes on one side for 2–3 minutes or until browned. Gently turn over the crab cakes and place the skillet into the oven for 10–12 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Remove from oven and serve immediately with Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce.

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