Fry

Wasabi Cilantro Aioli with Ginger Crab Cakes

May 26, 2011
0
0 Ratings
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

My husband and I lived for a couple of years in southern China where we became big fans of East Asian flavors, seafood, and spicy cuisine. Crab cakes with aioli seemed like a natural fit to incorporate all three. The wasabi and cilantro in the aioli brings out the ginger and lime flavors of the crab cakes, which are great as an appetizer or as a main course. If you make too many, they also freeze extremely well! —cooklocalthinksocial

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Wasabi Cilantro Aioli
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon water
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • Juice of one lime
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon wasabi
  • Ginger Crab Cakes
  • 2 celery stalks
  • 2 scallions
  • 1 pound lump crab meat
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • Zest of one lime
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup canola oil
Directions
  1. For the Aioli: In large bowl, combine egg yolk with crushed garlic, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. water. Continuously whisk all ingredients together while slowly pouring olive oil into the bowl. In order to avoid the aioli separating, start with only a few drops of oil at a time and then increase to a steady stream. You will notice that the mixture lightens in color and thickens as more oil is added.
  2. Once all olive oil is incorporated into the aioli, add lime juice, cilantro, and wasabi. Mix well and taste for level of salt, adding more if necessary. Set aside in the refrigerator.
  3. For the crab cakes: Chop celery and scallions. In a large bowl, combine celery, scallions, crab meat, 2/3 c. panko, parlsey, ginger, eggs, garlic, lime zest, and salt. Mix well.
  4. Sprinkle remaining 1/3 c. panko onto a small plate. Using your hands, form crab mixture into cakes that are 2" in diameter. Press lightly on panko plate so that the cakes have an outer coating of bread crumbs.
  5. In a large pan on the stove top, heat canola oil. Fry each crab cake for approximately five minutes per side or until golden brown. Immediately remove from pan and place on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil. Once cooled, serve with Wasabi Cilantro Aioli.
Contest Entries

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Kitchen Butterfly
    Kitchen Butterfly
  • ChefMelissa
    ChefMelissa

2 Reviews

ChefMelissa February 6, 2014
These are fabulous! The wasabi sauce is perfect for those who like to kick up the heat. My boyfriend loves this flavorful twist on the plain ole crab cake. Question- as a main course what would you serve as sides with flavors that would relate well?
 
Kitchen B. May 26, 2011
I would love this as I am a big fan of cilantro. It sounds like a great combo with the crab cakes, and looks very pretty too!