Crab and leek cakes
- Published: 31 Dec 10
- Updated: 18 Mar 24
This crab and leek cake recipe is delightfully flavoursome; the citrus mayonnaise gives the dish extra tang.
- Serves 4
- Takes 15 minutes to make, 35-40 minutes to cook, plus cooling and chilling
Ingredients
- 500g potatoes, cut into chunks
- 1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for frying
- 2 small leeks, finely sliced
- 170-200g white crabmeat (see our how-to video below)
- Good pinch of cayenne pepper
- Handful of fresh flatleaf parsley, roughly chopped
- 2-3 tbsp fine polenta
- Grated zest of 1 lemon, plus extra lemon wedges to squeeze over
For the mayonnaise
- 2 large free-range egg yolks
- Squeeze of lemon juice
- Pinch of English mustard powder
- 130ml mild oil, such as groundnut
- 70ml olive oil
Method
- Cook the potatoes for 25 minutes in a steamer until very soft. Pat dry, then leave to cool completely. (Or boil for 20 minutes, drain well, then return to the pan over a very low heat for a couple of minutes to dry thoroughly.) Leave to cool.
- Make the mayonnaise by whisking the egg yolks with a small squeeze of lemon juice, mustard powder and seasoning in a bowl. Whisking continuously, gradually add the mild oil in a slow but steady stream.
- As you whisk, the mayonnaise will begin to thicken. At this stage, slowly whisk in the olive oil. Stop adding oil once the mayonnaise has a thick, glossy consistency. Taste, adjust the seasoning and add more lemon juice if needed. Chill until needed.
- To make the crab cakes, heat the oil in a small frying pan, then fry the leeks over a low-medium heat for 5-6 minutes until softened. Tip into a bowl and allow to cool.
- Mash the potatoes with a fork, then add to the cooled leeks with the crabmeat, cayenne and parsley. Season well and shape the mixture into 8 patties. Dip each one in the polenta to coat. Put on a plate and chill for at least 10 minutes.
- Heat a shallow layer of oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat and fry the cakes for 2-3 minutes on both sides until golden brown and hot all the way through. Serve with the mayonnaise, lemon wedges and seasonal veg or, if you prefer, a fresh green salad.
- Recipe from January 2011 Issue
Nutrition
- Calories
- 715kcals
- Fat
- 58.7g (10.2g saturated)
- Protein
- 18.6g
- Carbohydrates
- 29.1g (2g sugars)
- Salt
- 0.7g
delicious. tips
As you’re cooking the crabmeat rather than eating it fresh, you can use tinned instead of ‘hand-picked’.
PLEASE NOTE: the mayonnaise contains raw egg.
The mayonnaise will keep in the fridge, covered with cling film, for up to a week. Freeze the shaped, polenta-dusted crab cakes on a tray until solid, then place between sheets of baking paper, transfer to a well-sealed plastic container and put back in the freezer. Defrost completely before cooking.
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