Name: Cajun Crab Cakes
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1/2 lb shelled crab meat; 1/4 cup real mayonnaise; 1 egg (beaten); 1.5 cup panko bread crumbs; 1 lemon (juice and zest of, reserving 1 tbsp for Garlic Dill Aoli); 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning; 1 cup fresh pea shoots; 1/4 cup real mayonnaise; 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice; 2 tbsp fresh garlic (minced); 2 tbsp fresh chives (chopped); fresh chives (for garnish)

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These bite-sized Cajun Crab Cakes are a perfectly delicious appetizer, and they are super easy to make.

Why Crab Cake Appetizers?

Everyone loves crab cakes! These ones don't have to be an appetizer, either. You can serve them along with a salad, or alongside Cajun Red Beans and Rice, for dinner. You can even make these into sliders, or make the patties larger for full-size burgers.

These mini Cajun Crab Cakes are a delicious addition to any appetizer platter, garnished with a garlic chive aioli, and served on a bed of pea shoots. You can serve them at a Spring Wine & Appetizer Pairing, along with other delectable appetizers, like Asparagus Puffs, or Cucumber Radish Crostini.

Here's What You Need to Make Cajun Crab Cakes

Crabmeat

You can use fresh, frozen and thawed, or canned crabmeat. Although fresh is always my first choice, any of those options will be delicious. Having frozen or canned crab meat on hand has the advantage of being able to whip these up anytime.

Mayonnaise

Real, full-fat mayonnaise is a must for this recipe. Sandwich spreads and "whips" don't have the fat content that is required to give the crab cakes their crisp exterior and moist interior. Additionally, those spreads and whips contain sugar, which is not desirable in this recipe.

Egg

Use a large egg for this recipe and beat it thoroughly.

Bread Crumbs

Fine, dry breadcrumbs, not fresh ones are required for the crispy coating. Panko is ideal (I used gluten-free).

Cajun Seasoning

If you have Cajun or Creole seasoning on hand use that, or you can easily make your own using this recipe: Easy Cajun Spice Blend

Lemon

Of course, anytime there's seafood, there must be lemon. Fresh lemon juice and zest are essential.

Tips For Successful Cajun Crab Cakes

Start with cold ingredients. The patties will be much easier to shape and will hold together better.
Use parchment paper to line the baking sheet. This eliminates the need to grease the pan and makes clean-up easy.
Use a hot oven. These are baked at 425° A hot oven is the best way to get a super crispy coating.
Turn halfway through. Turn each patty halfway through the cooking time, and also rotate the baking sheet for even cooking.

How To Make Ahead

You can make and bake the crab cakes, allow them to cool, and store them in the fridge for up to one day. To reheat, put them, on a baking tray in a 350° oven for ten minutes or until heated through. These cajun crab cakes are also delicious eaten cold as well.

How to Freeze Crab Cakes

This recipe can be frozen either cooked or uncooked. Either way, flash freeze the patties on a baking tray for about an hour or until firm. Then pack them into freezer-safe, airtight containers and freeze for up to 2 months.

To reheat frozen, cooked crab cakes, put the frozen patties on a baking sheet in a 350° oven and heat 20 to 30 minutes, turning halfway through.

To cook frozen crab cakes, first, defrost them in the fridge overnight, then bake as instructed.

Crab Nutritional Information

Crabmeat is low in calories, and most of those calories are protein. Crab is a complete source of protein. It supplies all of the 20 amino acids that your body needs to make new proteins. It's also an excellent source of B Vitamins, especially B 12, a vitamin that enables your body to produce healthy red blood cells, strong brain function, and reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Choosing Sustainable Seafood

Those of us that eat food from the sea, as well as those that make their living supplying that food, are increasingly aware of sustainability. We need to ensure that our oceans are healthy and able to produce food. Not only for ourselves, but for so many other species who depend on it. Therefore, when shopping for seafood, look for the Marine Stewardship Council, or Ocean Wise label. These labels ensure that the fish was caught using sustainable practices.

Love Cajun seafood? Try my Blackened Cod recipe, or Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta too!

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