Do you love going to a good party? Well, I have a treat for you today. I’m hosting a Springtime Progressive Dinner Party with some of my favorite blog friends tonight! From the table scape to appetizers, sides, the main course, and of course drinks and desserts–we all have it covered. And of course we can’t have a dinner party without giving one lucky guest the most amazing giveaway ($650 total value).
I always love bringing an appetizer to a dinner party, so that is what I’m bringing to the party tonight. In an effort to constantly continue to challenge myself I decided to break out of my comfort zone and make one of my favorite appetizers… Mini Crab Cakes. For some odd reason, they have always intimidated me and I just made them for the first time over Easter. I know–its crazy talk. But I’m so weird like that.
These Mini Crab Cakes are super easy to make. The best part is that you can put the filling together ahead of time and fry them just before your guest arrive, transfer them to a warm oven on 200 degrees Fahrenheit and then serve them once your guest are at your dinner party. I looked at over a dozen recipes and none seemed to really hit me. It wasn’t until Ina’s recipe. It is chocked full of veggies and y’all know me. I love me some veggies!
This recipe also called for cooking the veggies in tasty butter and olive oil. Whenever I’m cooking I love to use Land O Lakes® Butter Half Sticks. The butter stays fresher longer, and like most recipes I find myself only needing 2 tablespoons to a half stick of butter. A few months ago if you would have looked in my butter compartment in my refrigerator you would have seen a handful of half used butter sticks. Now, because of the half sticks you will see one half stick open at a time! Love the connivence and the idea that my food is staying fresher longer!
Back to the Mini Crab Cakes… Your guest are going to not only be impressed you cooked up a fancy appetizer, but they will be in love once you tell them how easy it really is to make crab cakes. Oh and the cilantro lime sauce that accompanies these crab cakes can be made either the day before or right before your guest arrive. The sauce is cool and refreshening!
Crab Cake Recipe Adapted from Ina Garden
Cilantro Lime Sauce – Katie Original Recipe
Equipment
- Stove Top
- Refrigerator
Ingredients
For the Crab Cakes
- 2 tablespoon Land O Lakes® Salted Butter
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ cup red onion diced
- 4 stalks celery diced small
- 1 cup red and yellow bell pepper minced
- ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley minced
- ¼ teaspoon hot pepper sauce
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 8 oz. lump crabmeat drained and picked to remove shells
- ½ cup Italian Style bread crumbs
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 extra-large eggs lightly beaten
For frying
- 4 tablespoon Land O Lakes® Salted Butter
- ¼ cup olive oil
For the Cilantro Lime Sauce:
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ½ lime juiced and zested
- ¼ cup cilantro minced
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- dash of black pepper
Instructions
For the Crab Cakes:
- In a large sauté pan, place the 2 tablespoons Land O Lakes® Salted Butter, 2 tablespoons oil, onion, celery, red/yellow bell peppers, parsley, hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay seasoning, and pepper. Cook over medium-low heat until the vegetables are soft, (about 15-20 minutes). Cool the vegetables to room temperature.
- In a large bowl, break the lump crabmeat into small pieces (double check to ensure there are no crab shells). Add the bread crumbs, mayonnaise, mustard, and eggs to the bowl. Add the cooked mixture of vegetables and mix well. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Shape into bite-sized crab cakes (about 1 tablespoon each).
For Frying:
- Heat the Land O Lakes® Salted Butter and olive oil over medium heat in a large saute pan. Add the mini crab cakes to the pan and fry for 4-5 minutes on each side, until browned. Drain on paper towels. To keep them warm place them on a foiled line baking sheet in the oven on 250 degree.
For the Cilantro Lime Sauce:
- In a large bowl, add mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, lime zest, cilantro, garlic powder, and dash of pepper. Mix well until incorporated. Place in the refrigerator until ready to serve the mini crab cakes.
Notes
- Mini Crab Cakes - You can make about 48 - 1 tablespoon mini crab cakes with this recipe.
- Bread Crumb Alternative - Want more of a Baltimore style crab cake? Crush 20 saltine crackers instead of the bread crumbs.
- Chilling - It is very important to let the vegetables come to room temperature prior to adding to the mix. You could easily make the vegetables in the morning before you plan to make the crab cakes. You also need to let the entire crab cake mixture chill for at least a half hour. Letting it chill longer (up to 24 hours) will yield a thicker/fuller crab cake.
Nutrition
Now take a look at all the amazing recipes brought to our Springtime Progressive Dinner Party from my fellow blogging friends!
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And now for the largest giveaway to ever hit Katie’s Cucina! One lucky winner is going to win $650 worth of product so they can host their very own dinner party. Here is what is up for grabs:
- Land O Lakes® Butter
- One half stick butter dish
- One product Coupon
- One serving bowl
- One set measuring spoons
- Four dinner plates
- Le Creuset 5 Piece Cast Iron Set
- $150 worth of Dreamfarm kitchen tools!
One winner will be drawn at random using random.org. Must complete the mandatory question to be eligible. Please wait for rafflecopter widget to load–if it does not load please click on the link below. Giveaway ends on April 15, 2013 at 11:59pm.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation or product for participating in the Springtime Progressive Dinner Party. I love these brands and wanted to reward my readers with an amazing giveaway! Land O Lakes®, Le Creuset, and Dreamfarm all provided the prizes for the giveaway. As always all opinions are my own.
Nutmeg Nanny
Oh wow, these look fantastic! I can imagine how wonderful they taste 🙂
Katie
Thanks Brandy! They are so good!
Crystal
Cilantro is one of my all-time favorite flavors! What a great idea. I’ve never thought of adding old bay seasoning to crab cakes, but it makes perfect sense! I will have to give this a try.
Katie
Crystal–I put cilantro in just about everything (or at least that is how I feel)! Give this recipe a try–it won’t disappoint!
Melinda T
Oh yum! I’m drooling here! These look delicious!
Ashley Bee (Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine)
I looove crab cakes but have never made them. Guess I’ll have to now! Cilantro… yummm…
Katie
Ashley–do it! You are going to be shocked how easy they are to make!
Erika @Southern Souffle
Love Crab Cakes and that cilantro cream sauce makes them look incredible!
Suzy Q
What an awesome giveaway! I ahve used Land O Lakes butter all my life. I own one Le Creuset but would love an entire set!
Christine (Cook the Story)
What a delicious sounding recipe and amazing giveaway. I so love Le Creuset!!! Entering now!
Katie
Thanks Christine!
Angie @ Big Bear's Wife
How fabulous for a dinner party!
sally @ sallys baking addiction
I love crab cakes! Can’t get enough of them here in Maryland. That cilantro lime sauce sounds amazing on some mini cakes. 🙂
Katie
Thanks Sally–who can’t resist a crab cake?
Lisa Brown
I would bring Cinnamon rolls
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love.
Crab cakes are a weakness of mine! And then go and top them with cilantro cream sauce! Love!
Katie
Thanks Stephanie–I know I always have to order them when we are out! Now that I can make them we will definitely be eating them more at home!
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl
I am loving the flavors and I always crave crab cakes!
Katie
Me too! Thanks Liz.