Crispy Crab Cakes with Avocado Grapefruit Salsa

I've always wished I could have spent more time on the East Coast growing up… I remember going out to Cape Cod and Florida throughout my younger years to visit grandparents and my vast extended family. I would spend hours each day playing on the beach and in the ocean, returning with sandy feet to a big family dinner every night.

Of course, as a child who was a ridiculously picky eater, I never truly appreciated all the seafood that was right freaking there. It's really such a shame; I could have eaten my weight in lobster if I wanted to (yes, I may have been a slightly spoiled only child when I was little…).

Now I realize what an opportunity my tiny little self missed out on. All that fresh seafood was right there… At that age though, I generally refused to eat anything that wasn't mac and cheese or hamburgers with only ketchup slathered on them.

Thank God I developed a palate and became obsessed with food in my young adult years. I may have missed out on a ton of fresh seafood, but I have been making up for it ever since. I will seek the fresh stuff out every opportunity I get. I may be in a landlocked state right now, but I can track it down if I'm craving it.

Lately all I've been craving is a nice and crispy crab cake, filled with luscious lump crabmeat… So I treated myself to some fresh crab at a local seafood shop here and made these bad boys to curb my appetite.

Personally I love my crab crakes fresh and simple. I like to really highlight the flavor and texture of the crab, instead of loading it up with too many veggies and other wacky ingredients. These crab cakes are allllll about the crab. They are irresistibly crisp on the outside, silky smooth and fresh on the inside.

To compliment all that crab, I whipped up an avocado grapefruit salsa that is both bright and a little hearty with those chunks of rich avocado. It's just the summery accompaniment these crab cakes need.  

If your mouth isn't watering right now, there's something seriously wrong with you. Just saying… 

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Crispy Crab Cakes with Avocado Grapefruit Salsa Recipe

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Ingredients

For the Crab Cakes:

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• pinch of cayenne pepper
• 1 pound fresh lump crab meat, picked over
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup canola oil, or vegetable oil

For the Salsa:

• 1 avocado, pitted, peeled, and cubed
• 1 large grapefruit, segmented and chopped
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Whisk together mayonnaise, egg, lemon juice, Dijon, Worcestershire, garlic powder salt, pepper and cayenne in a small bowl.
2. In a medium bowl, toss crab with panic breadcrumbs. Fold in the mayonnaise mixture and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
3. To make the salsa, combine avocado, grapefruit, jalapeño, lime juice, cilantro, and salt in a small bowl, stirring gently to incorporate it all. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
4. Divide the crab mixture into 8 portions and form 8 patties, approximately 1-inch thick.
5. Heat canola or vegetable oil over medium high heat in a large skillet. Once hot, add half of the crab cakes. Cook until golden brown, approximately 2 to 3 minutes per side. Repeat the cooking process with the remaining patties.
6. Serve immediately with salsa on a bed of arugula or frisee. 

Notes

• If you have chipotle or chili infused olive oil, add an extra drizzle of this when ready to serve.

Recommended

Cuisinart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls

Source: Recipe adapted from Food & Wine

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