The Best Crab Cakes

Dr. Sweetpea and I went to Salt Air here in Houston a few weeks ago for dinner and had amazing crab cakes as an appetizer. I loved it so much that I had a craving to eat more but since they are so pricey, I decided to make some from scratch. I used Valerie Bertinelli's recipe and it was amazing! Dr. Sweetpea kept raving about how good they were and to definitely make these for us more often. Definitely a keeper in our household!

Lump Crab Cakes with Cocktail Remoulade Sauce

(Source: Valerie Bertinelli) 

4 slices white sandwich bread, crusts removed

1 pound jumbo lump crabmeat, picked through for bits of shell

1/4 cup mayonnaise

2 green onions, finely chopped

2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay

1/4 teaspoon hot sauce, such as Tabasco

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 large egg, lightly beaten

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 small clove garlic, thinly sliced

1 pound baby spinach

Cocktail Remoulade, for serving, recipe follows

Lemon wedges, for serving

Pulse the bread in a food processor to make coarse breadcrumbs; transfer to a large bowl. Add the crab, mayonnaise, green onions, lemon zest, Worcestershire, seafood seasoning, hot sauce, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Mix gently to combine. Add the egg and mix gently but thoroughly.

For the mixture into eight 3-inch-wide crab cakes. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes to set slightly.

Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook the crab cakes, in batches if necessary, turning once, until golden brown on both sides and heated through, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a large plate and cover loosely with foil.

Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the spinach, in batches if necessary, and cook, tossing, until just wilted. Season with salt and pepper.

Divide the spinach among four plates and top with the crab cakes. Serve with Cocktail Remoulade and lemon wedges.

Cocktail Remoulade:

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1/3 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons prepared horseradish

1 tablespoon finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

1 tablespoon whole grain mustard

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

2 teaspoons finely chopped capers

1 green onion, finely chopped

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Mix together the mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, parsley, mustard, vinegar, capers, green onion and some salt and pepper in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. The remoulade keeps, refrigerated, for up to 3 days.