Back to School B*tches
It is officially back to school season boys and girls. I just wanted to pop in and give you an update on my life. On occasion, I’ll catch you up on what’s going on in my very boring and routine life. That way, those of you who don’t really know me can get to know me! I always leave the “jump to recipe” icon at the top of every post because I know not everyone reads the actual text of the post. Rest assured, I’m not offended if you do this because I’m guilty of it as well. Sometimes you just want the recipe without all the bullsh*t. Am I right? But after I catch you up on everything, I will dive into the recipe, which, in this case is the ultimate crab cake recipe.
As I said, it is back to school season, and I’m starting my third and final year at Johnson & Wales University. If you didn’t know, I’m enrolled in the SHARP program within my school, which allows me to take more classes within the school year in order to graduate earlier. So, if everything goes accordingly, I will be set to graduate by the end of my Spring trimester.
I Miss My Mommy
In my honest opinion, going back to college sucks. Not that my life here is terrible in any way, but nothing beats the feeling of being home. I’m pretty introverted, so I like being in the comfort of my own space. I also have the greatest family in the world — my dog included (not to brag or anything), which makes it even harder to go back to school. Continuing on the honesty train, I also don’t have many friends at school. I’m definitely a quality over quantity kind of gal when it comes to friends. It’s not that I don’t want to make friends it’s just that I haven’t necessarily found a lot of people who I really click with. But just so I don’t sound like a total loser, I do have a few friends who push me to go out and do things. Not that there’s a lot to do though. No offense Rhode Island. But I am pushing through and trying to make the best of it.
We could definitely go further into this sad story known as my college life, but it’s getting kind of depressing. To summarize, I don’t really have an exciting college life, and I would definitely prefer to be at home. I mean, come on, I find happiness in staying at home, making recipes in my pajamas. Doesn’t exactly scream wild party girl who loves college. Just being real.
The Ultimate Crab Cake Recipe
So, if I could find a clever way to transition into talking about crab cakes, I would definitely insert that here. Unfortunately, I could not find a way to link my “I have no friends and don’t want to be at school” story to this recipe for crab cakes, so we’ll just have to jump right in!
I’ve been making crab cakes at home for a few years now, so I’ve been able to test out different recipes. When developing this crab cake recipe, I basically took everything I liked from all of the crab cake recipes I’ve tried and combined them to create this Ultimate Crab Cake Recipe! These little patties are packed with flavor and are taken to a whole other level with the aioli.
#WorthIt
I know that the ingredient list for this crab cake recipe may seem daunting, but I promise that you will not regret putting in the effort to make this recipe once you taste them. Despite the long ingredient list, the steps to make the crab cakes are short and sweet. Put everything into a bowl, mix it, shape it, fry it. Bada bing bada boom!
Not gonna lie, this crab cake recipe is almost a flavor overload. Once you take a bite, all these different flavors assault your tastebuds. But in the best way possible. There’s salty, sweet, sour, spicy, umami, crunch, creaminess, and acidity. Like I said, there’s a lot going on, but somehow it all works together to create … The ULTIMATE. CRAB CAKE RECIPE!!! I don’t know why but every time I read the “ultimate crab cake recipe” I hear it as an announcer in a boxing ring introducing some renowned boxer. By the way, I don’t know anything about boxing nor do I watch it, so I have no idea if the announcers actually do this.
Crab Cakes and College
So, unlike my lackluster college life, this crab cake recipe is bomb AF!!! AKA super amazing for all of the adults reading this who have not kept up with the young adult lingo. These may not be Maryland crab cakes, but they are pretty damn good in my opinion. Definitely try this recipe out! You can freeze any leftover crab cakes and simply reheat them in the oven when your crab cake craving hits!
If you’re heading back to school, have a great school year! I didn’t mean to sound so pessimistic at the beginning of the post — I just wanted to be real. If you don’t love college or it didn’t live up to your expectation, know that you’re not alone! I’m right there with ya! Not everyone loves college, and thats okay. It doesn’t mean your life is terrible. College isn’t for everyone, and we all have different experiences, as we’re all different people. The best time of your life could be in your 30’s for all I know. Just power through, at least, that’s what I’m doing. Have a great day, and I’ll talk to you in my next post!
The Ultimate Crab Cake Recipe
Ingredients
For the Crabcakes
- 16 oz Lump Crabmeat
- 1 Red Bell Pepper (1/4 inch dice)
- 1 Shallot or ¼ Red Onion (finely chopped)
- 1 Jalapeño (finely chopped)
- 3 Garlic Cloves (minced)
- ¼ cup Parsley + more for garnishing (chopped)
- ¼ cup Scallions + more for garnishing (thinly sliced)
- ⅓ cup Mayo
- 2 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1/2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 Large Egg (beaten)
- ¾ cup Panko Breadcrumbs
- Juice from 1/2 a Lemon
- ¾ tsp Kosher Salt
- 1½ tsp Ground Black Pepper
- As Needed Neutral Oil (ie: Corn, Canola, Grapeseed)
- As Needed Lemon Wedges (for serving)
For the Aioli
- ¾ cup Mayo
- 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 2 Garlic Cloves (minced)
- 1 tsp Chili Sauce or Hot Sauce
- ½ tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
- 1/4 tsp Paprika
- Dash of Cayenne
- ¼ tsp Kosher Salt
- ¼ tsp Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
For the Crab Cakes:
- Combine all of the ingredients for the crab cakes, except for the oil and lemon wedges, in a large bowl. Gently mix until everything is evenly distributed. Do not over-mix because, you want to maintain some larger chunks of crab.
- Use a ½ cup measuring scoop to portion the crab cake mixture. Form them into patties about 3 inches in diameter and ¾ inch thick. You should get about 9 patties.
- Heat a pan over medium heat. Add enough oil to the so that a thin layer is coating the bottom of the pan. Working in batches, add the crab cakes to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown.
For the Aioli
- Mix all of the ingredients for the aioli in a small bowl.
- Garnish the crab cakes with the remaining sliced scallions and parsley leaves. Serve them with the aioli and lemon wedges. Enjoy!
We still remember the crabcakes you made us this summer. Great, now I have the recipe so I’ll be sure to try it myself so I don’t have to wait for your next visit, or a trip to Baltimore! Wish me luck!
Haha I’m glad you liked them so much! Let me know how they turn out!