Simple, Light Crab Cakes.
Yesterday I broke out my grandma’s little red recipe book in search for her crab cake recipe.
It is filled was quite the array of recipes, including this lime ham salad above which I can promise will not be making it on to the blog. Eeeek.
That’s all I have to say about that.
So… the secret ingredient for the crab cakes? Saltines. But only eight saltines. No more, no less. That’s it!
There is nothing more disappointing than ordering crab cakes in a restaurant, only to bite in and discover they are filled with junk.
No fear, you won’t have that problem here. No junk in the trunk.
See, I have this little issue of rarely ever being able to make the same recipe twice. This is true almost always when it comes to cooking – I would say 98% of the time I have no recipe in mind and just throw things together until they taste good. I get bored quite easily.
However, I followed this recipe nearly to a T. I already have a favorite baked crab cake recipe that includes peppers and onions sauteed in olive oil and butter, with entire said mixture being poured into the crab cake ‘dough.’ They are buttery and melt in your mouth. But they are a bit more complicated, and include a few steps such as chopping and sauteing veggies before even making the cakes.
Some days, I just crave simple.
And I’ve been dying to try this recipe for months. It is one of my brother’s favorite meals. They are just too easy and too quick not to love them.
The outside is crispy and the inside is filled with tons of crabmeat. I loved the different textures. The only issue I had? The recipe claims it yields 4 to 6 servings. Really? Maybe back in 1965. Maybe for normal people. Maybe for those of us who aren’t gluttons.
I can tell you one thing. You will absolutely not get 4 to 6 servings if you live with Mr. How Sweet. In fact, you will get no servings. He will get one.
And he will eat them with 2 side dishes: macaroni and cheese and leftover 3 meat pizza. Because that sounds about right, no? Funny, when I put a call out on Facebook a few months ago suggesting side dishes for crab cakes, neither one of those came up. I wonder why?
serves 1-2
1 pound lump crabmeat
8 saltine crackers, crushed
1 egg
1 tablespoon mustard
1 tablespoon greek yogurt (her recipe called for mayo, I was out)
pinch of cayenne pepper
salt & pepper to taste
1 tablespoons olive oil
Combine all ingredients in a bowl except oil and stir until thoroughly combined. Heat a skillet on medium heat and add olive oil. While it’s heating, form the crab mixture into small patties – you will get about 5 to 6 cakes. Place them in the skillet and cook until lightly golden brown, about 3-4 minutes on each side.
Moral of the story? These rock. They taste incredible. You can make them in less than 20 minutes. And they’re healthy. Now get in the kitchen!
159 Comments on “Simple, Light Crab Cakes.”
When I was growing up, the only time I ate saltines was with flat lemonade when I was sick.
Next time I get the flu, I’m calling my mum and asking for flat lemonade and crab cakes instead. ;)
Making these for Lloyd ASAP!
One of my favorite things I have ever eaten (when I ate meat) were crab cakes in Maryland. Holy. Crap. So. Good.
Of course now I just have to salivate through the screen – you know because of my morals and all.
Darn morals. ;)
I’ve heard of saltines in crab cakes before! Makes a great filler without being too overwhelming, which is why I love the rest of your recipe. When I eat a crab cake, I like to taste the crab!
We LOVE crab cakes in our house! I have yet to find the perfect recipe. Can’t wait to try these :)
Aww thanks for sharing one of your grandma’s recipes! I always think family recipes are so special, and they always taste better :-)
Wow! I have a recipe that I use for crabcakes, but this one sounds better! I am definitely going to try it next time. I like the idea of using saltines instead of breadcrumbs. Genius!
I love old family recipes. There’s something so fun about looking back at them. You can never go wrong with crabcakes!
Ohmygoodness! These look amazing! I had no idea crab cakes could be made so simply…I’ve always been too scared to try making them. I’ll definitely give these a shot because, hey, even if I fail, I’ve only wasted 20 minutes of my life! …And if I succeed? I’ll just have to eat quickly b
They are so easy! You gotta try.
um, i kind of gagged at the lime ham salad. i almost did again when i wrote that out…
and yes, i LOVE crabcakes! these sound perfect!
Yay-grandma’s recipes are the best!!!
Ohhh – these look fantastic – and so easy. I have been craving crab since seeing and episode of Nigella where she made a really simple crab salad..now, if I actually get around to purchasing crab meat – BOTH will have to happen.
Those LOOK incredible! Such awesome pictures make me hungry! =D
This is so close to my mother-in-law’s recipe for salmon patties. Ya gotta love the simplicity of old recipes! They look delicious!
Haha! My other grandma (Mother Lovett) was also big on making salmon patties. Must have been that generation.
Yeah, Tony loves them, but even when I ate meat, I was never on board with canned salmon…yuck!
I’ve never even tasted canned salmon. It makes me cringe!
I always think crab cakes look so tasty…except I hate the taste of crab. I love that you can make these in 20 minutes. Can’t beat that! If I liked crab, that is. :-)
Crab. Enough said! I love the stuff! No, but seriously. I love making crab/salmon/tuna/other fish cakes. You can basically just throw whatever you have laying in your pantry and veggie bin and it’ll taste good. I love that aspect of cooking! So much fun!
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These look great! I love when they’re not too heavily coated (like most restaurants tend to do… grrr!) The saltines are a great idea and sound like they’d actually allow you to taste the crab instead of just a bunch of breadiness. I recently coated some fish in crushed Triscuits and that was awesome too!
That sounds delicious!
these are GORGEOUS. i want to eat them. RIGHT NOW. :) thanks for sharing, i’ll be trying this very soon.
Those look like the tuna croquettes I make! Yum!
Isn’t it funny to compare recipe serving sizes from today with older cookbooks?
Well, funny and I guess kind of depressing, ha!
Seriously!
I’ll be trying this! I can’t stand crabcakes that really are everything but crab! Simple, easy, light, and loaded with crab- perfect!
These look great and so simple! I love grandma’s recipes!
Healthy crab cakes — and SO simple! I love these — and my husband would love them too. I always associate crab cakes with a lot of work… but these I could definitely do.
Such a simple ingredient list! Love it!! I will have to make these soon :D
I love crab cakes and can’t wait to try these! I’ve never made my own. Sad day.
Mother Lovett’s snickerdoodles are a staple around here. So I’m sure these will be too!
I haven’t made crab cakes in forever! But I always use saltines too :) I like homemaking them because you can make them mostly crab with very little filler (aka perfect). Yours look awesome! Great on a salad, as an appetizer or with more substantial sides! fabulous. Happy Friday
These look eerily similar to my father-in-laws recipe! but his only use 5 saltines :)
They look perfect!
Yum Jessica those look so delicious! My boyfriend is the same way i’ll ask him to pick up fish for dinner and he will come home with two pounds for just us and eat it all. If only haha
I love the simplicity of your grandma’s crab cakes! They sound like (and look like) perfection!
Wow these look delicious! I live in Washington, DC and I’ve never attempted making crab cakes because people are very particular down here about their crab cakes. But I’m def making these for my hubby!
Will you go to work for me so I can make these?
Crab cakes are one of my favorite meals. The recipe I’ve used is kind of similar to this, but the saltines and yogurt sound really intriguing. I’ll have to try your version! They look completely drool-worthy.
These look as tasty as they do easy to prepare! I always like old bay in my crab cakes so that might be my only revision – otherwise looks like a pretty flawless recipe!
I love the simplicity of the ingredients in these!
No Old Bay?! This is a travesty!
I am so making these for the bf. Now I just need crab meat…
Those look AH-MA-ZING!!! I could go for a couple of those right now, even if it is 8:50 AM!!!
Hilarious! Portion control back in the 60s? BAH! I do agree with that crazy portion “feeds 4-6” my recipes probably feed an army and it would shock some grandma out there.
Actually, my grandmother DOES cook EXACTLY for 4 people, not even for there to be second servings. I think they had something going back in the 60s, just saying. :D
My grandma also did this.
These look fabulous!
I think even I could make these, which is saying a lot since it’s a struggle for me to produce a good piece of toast in my kitchen…
My wallet would also appreciate it if I pulled these off. The weekly Sunday Brunches out to get crab cakes benedict and bloody mary’s garnished with lump crab meat (AND bacon…try not to drool) are definitely starting to add up.
I love crab cakes! My recipe is almost identical to yours except I use seasoned breadcrumbs instead of saltines. yum!!
They were modest in the 60s. We’re honest today.
Hahah. I love this.
Crab cakes are amazing. But I agree with you about sometimes they are filled with junk. When I order a crab cake….I want CRAB. :)
Your recipe does look simple and delicious!
It’s hard to find a good one!
thank you, thank you for this! saltines are the perfect way to add some texture to the crab cake patty. I can’t wait to go try this. :)
Saltines? I really like that idea. I’ve never made crab cakes before, I usually just steal them from my parents fridge when my mom buys them. These sound way better.
these look just about perfect:) i made crab cakes last year for the first time with a very similar, simple recipe, but it called for breadcrumbs instead of saltines. i’ll definitely try your version with the saltines, genius!
http://semiweeklyeats.blogspot.com/2010/02/crab-cakes.html
One of my favorite dishes and one which I have never considered trying. Have I finally seen the error of my ways after reading your easy peasy recipe and seeing the glorious pictures? Perhaps…
ive never had a crab cake? I know, and Im a new englander!!! these look delicious!!
What?! That must be changed!
Yum! I HAVE to try these :) I’ve never purchased lump crabmeat at the store before.. do you just get it from the seafood counter at the grocery store or wha?
Yep! It is usually right under the fresh seafood but it is in a can. Don’t get imitation!