Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter, plus 1/2 cup melted
  • 1 tablespoon minced green onion
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon minced red bell pepper
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons hot chili sauce
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 pound claw blue crab meat, picked for shells
  • 1 pound lump back fin blue crab meat, picked for shells
  • 3 cups light whole wheat bread cubes
  • 1/4 cup minced fresh chives
  • 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
  • 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 425.
  • In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and add the green onion, garlic, and bell pepper.
  • Simmer for 1 minute, and whisk in the flour.
  • Simmer for an additional minute.
  • Whisk in the heavy cream, raise the heat, and whisk continuously until the sauce comes to a boil and thickens, about 5 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and whisk vigorously.
  • Stir in the egg yolk, mustard, chili sauce, and lemon juice and refrigerate to chill.
  • Stir in the basil, salt, and crab meat and form into 12 patties.
  • Set aside.
  • Combine the bread, herbs, and pepper in the bowl of the food processor and process to fine crumbs.
  • Coat the crab cakes in the crumbs.
  • Place on a buttered baking sheet, drizzle with the 1/2 cup of melted butter, and bake for 5 to 7 minutes, until theyre golden and hot.
  • VARIATION
  • Two pounds shredded smoked fish (bluefish, whiting, salmon) may be substituted for the crab to make smoked fish cakes.