Crab Cakes over Spinach

These crab cakes are pretty traditional but have a hint of spice and are served like a salad. I top with a bit of Dijon and serve over baby spinach. Before serving drizzle olive oil over the cake and spinach and squeeze fresh lemon over it for an easy vinaigrette.

• Butter for frying

• 5 tbsp. Olive Oil, plus more for drizzling over spinach

• S/P

• 3 slices day old white bread

• 1 pound cooked blue crab meat (or any other type of crab meat), picked over and drained

• 1 large egg yolk

• 1/2 tsp. paprika

• Chopped parsley (about 1/2 cup

• 2 tsp. lemon juice, plus more for squeezing over spinach

• 1/2 small red onion, diced

• 1/2 green pepper, diced

• 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

• 2 tsp. Tabasco sauce

• 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard (plus more for topping, optional)

• Baby spinach leaves

Wine suggestion: A crisp and smooth Pinot Grigio

1. Tear up the bread and pulse in a food processor to make fine, soft crumbs (about 2 cups). Transfer the bread crumbs to a bowl  and mix in a generous amount of chopped parsley.

2. In a food processor, combine the egg yolk, lemon juice, Worcestershire, Tabasco, mustard, paprika, and a dash or two S/P. Pulse to combine. With the motor running, add the oil through the feed tube in a slow, steady stream until the mixture emulsifies and forms a mayonnaise-type sauce. Transfer sauce to a bowl.

3. In a large bowl, combine the onion and bell pepper with a little bit of parsley. Add the mayonnaise-type sauce and crabmeat and mix lightly. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the bread crumb mixture.

4. Do not overwork the mixture. Gently form 6 cakes and flatten them into patties about 1/2 inch thick. Cover the crab cakes with plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour or longer.

5. Heat a large non-stick skillet on medium heat and add about 2 Tbsp of butter to the pan. Working in batches, fry crab cakes gently 4 to 5 minutes on each side, until they are golden brown and heated through. Add more butter to the pan if necessary.

Serves: makes ~ 6 cakes

Recipe source: Original

Time: 40 minutes plus time to rest in fridge