Crisp Cayenne-Spiced Crab Cakes
Recipe from
Food & Wine
Growing up in Silver Spring, Maryland, cooking-club member DeeAnn Budney attended all-day Chesapeake blue crab feasts organized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Now that she lives on the West Coast, she makes these fantastically spicy crab cakes with sweet Dungeness crab meat, but either kind works.

Servings:
12
Prep Time:
1 hr
Total Time:
2 hrs 15 mins
Ingredients
BREAD CRUMB COATING
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3 slicessoft white sandwich bread, crusts removed and bread cut into 1-inch piecessee savings

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2 tablespoonschopped parsleysee savings

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3/4 teaspooncayenne peppersee savings

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1 teaspoonOld Bay seasoningsee savings

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1 teaspoonbaking powdersee savings

CRAB CAKES
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2 1/2 tablespoonsunsalted buttersee savings

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1/4 cupfinely diced red bell peppersee savings

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1/4 cupfinely diced shallotssee savings

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2eggs, lightly beatensee savings

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2 tablespoonschopped parsley leavessee savings

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2 tablespoonsWorcestershire saucesee savings

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1 tablespoonOld Bay seasoningsee savings

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1 tablespoonDijon mustardsee savings

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1 teaspooncayenne peppersee savings

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1 teaspoonbaking powdersee savings

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1/4 teaspoonsaltsee savings

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2 poundslump crabmeat, drained and picked oversee savings

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2 slicessoft white sandwich bread, crusts removed and bread cut into 1/4-inch cubessee savings

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3 tablespoonsolive oilsee savings

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Lemon wedges, for servingsee savings

Directions
1.
In a food processor, pulse the bread with the parsley, cayenne, Old Bay, and baking powder until fine crumbs form. Transfer the crumbs to a medium bowl.
2.
In a small skillet, melt 1/2 tablespoon of the butter. Add the red bell pepper and shallots and cook over moderately high heat until softened, about 3 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, then transfer to a large bowl. Add the eggs, parsley, Worcestershire, Old Bay, mustard, cayenne, baking powder, and salt and stir well to blend. Add the crabmeat and the bread cubes to the bowl and toss gently until evenly combined.
3.
Form the crab mixture into 24 small patties, using 1/4 cup per patty. Squeeze to wring out any excess liquid. Roll the crab cakes in the bread crumb coating and arrange them on a large rimmed baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, until thoroughly chilled.
4.
In a large skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the olive oil. Working in batches, cook the crab cakes over moderately high heat, turning once, until golden brown and crisp, about 10 minutes per batch. Serve the crab cakes with lemon wedges.
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