Crab Cakes with Cilantro-Sour Cream Sauce

Fry these crab cakes briefly in the skillet and finish them in the oven, freeing you up for last-minute dinner party preparations. Pair with a homemade cilantro-sour cream sauce.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 835 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• ⅔ cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• ¼ cup diced red onion
• ¼ cup minced red bell pepper
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 pound fresh crabmeat, well picked over
• 2 cups dry bread crumbs, divided
• Sauce:
• 1 ⅓ cups sour cream, or more to taste
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
• ¼ cup corn oil for frying

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Put eggs, lemon juice, mayonnaise, bell pepper, onion, cilantro, salt, cayenne pepper, and black pepper in a mixing bowl and mix well. Gently fold in crabmeat and 1/2 of the bread crumbs.

Step 3

Form crabmeat mixture into 8 patties. Coat both sides in remaining bread crumbs. Place patties on waxed paper and freeze for 15 minutes.

Step 4

Prepare the sauce: Mix sour cream, mayonnaise, bell pepper, garlic, lemon juice, cilantro, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl. Season with salt and black pepper.

Step 5

Heat 1/2 of the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Carefully add patties to hot oil in batches. Fry until golden, about 30 seconds on each side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Repeat with remaining patties, adding remaining oil as needed.

Step 6

Transfer patties to a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a patty should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Step 7

Serve patties with sauce.