Louisiana Crab Cakes with Creole Tartar Sauce

The Maryland classic goes Creole with a double dose of spicy, vinegary hot pepper sauce in the tartar sauce and the crab cakes.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 2 crab cakes and 2 tablespoons tartar sauce)

Ingredients

• Tartar sauce:
• 1/2  cup  low-fat mayonnaise
• 3  tablespoons  sweet pickle relish
• 2  tablespoons  capers, drained and rinsed
• 1  teaspoon  Creole mustard
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt-free Cajun-Creole seasoning (such as The Spice Hunter)
• 1/4  teaspoon  hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco)
• 
  Crab cakes:
• 4  (1-ounce) slices white bread
• 1/4  cup  finely chopped onion
• 1/4  cup  finely chopped red bell pepper
• 1  tablespoon  chopped fresh parsley
• 1  tablespoon  fresh lemon juice
• 1  tablespoon  hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco)
• 1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 1  pound  lump crabmeat, shell pieces removed
• 1  large egg, lightly beaten
• 1  large egg white, lightly beaten
• 4  teaspoons  vegetable oil, divided
• Fresh parsley sprigs (optional)
• Lemon wedges (optional)

Preparation

To prepare tartar sauce, combine first 6 ingredients, stirring with a whisk. Let stand 10 minutes.

To prepare crab cakes, place bread in a food processor; pulse 10 times or until coarse crumbs measure 2 cups. Combine 1 cup breadcrumbs, onion, and next 8 ingredients (through egg white); mix well. Divide crab mixture into 8 equal portions. Form each portion into a 1/2-inch-thick patty. Place 1 cup breadcrumbs in a shallow dish. Dredge patties, one at a time, in breadcrumbs.

Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 4 patties; cook 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Repeat procedure with remaining oil and patties. Serve with tartar sauce. Garnish with parsley sprigs and lemon wedges, if desired.

Tip: The tartar sauce stands for 10 minutes to let the flavors meld, but you can make it up to a day ahead and store it, covered, in the refrigerator. Lump crabmeat makes great crab cakes, but they're prone to falling apart. Handle them patiently and gently for the best results.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

331 (30% from fat)

Fat:

11g (sat 1.8g,mono 2.6g,poly 5.3g)

Protein:

28.2g

Carbohydrate:

29.1g

Fiber:

1.4g

Cholesterol:

167mg

Iron:

2.5mg

Sodium:

992mg

Calcium:

163mg