Dungeness Crab Cakes

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These are so simple to make! These also are great served as the starter course of your meal.

Check out more of Linda's great Crab Recipes and Appetizer Recipes for more great cooking ideas.

1/2 pound cooked Dungeness crab meat*
1 1/2 cup Panko crumbs or fresh fine bread crumbs, divided**
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup half and half cream
1 large egg, slightly beaten
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup green onions minced
1 tablespoon capers, minced
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
Salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons butter
Orange Sauce (see recipe below)

*If you can't get fresh crab, look for the pasteurized crab usually sold in the refrigerated case of your supermarket or fish store.

**Check out Making Homemade Bread Crumbs.

Carefully clean the crab meat of any shells or cartilage. In a large bowl, gently combine the crab meat, 1/2 Panko crumbs, mayonnaise, half and half, egg, garlic, onion, capers, orange juice, salt, and pepper with a rubber spatula until mixture just clings together (do not over mix).

Divide crab mixture into eight (8) portions and shape each into a flat, round cake about 1/2 inches thick. Place the remaining 1/2 Panko crumbs into a shallow pie plate. Working with one cake at a time, lightly coat the cakes with the crumbs. Place onto a baking sheet lined with either parchment or wax paper; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerator at least 3 hours or overnight (the cold will firm up the cakes so that they will not break up when fried).

Prepare Orange Sauce. NOTE: Orange Sauce may be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator until serving time.

In a large nonstick frying pan over medium heat, heat butter until hot but not smoking (add more butter if needed). Gently lay chilled crab cakes onto bottom of the pan; slowly fry crab cakes approximately 4 minutes per side or until crisp and golden brown, turning once only with a spatula. If the crab cake browns too quickly, reduce heat. The internal temperature should be 150 to 155 degrees F. with an instant read cooking thermometer. Remove from heat. Remove from heat.

Place the crab cakes on individual serving plates. Drizzle the crab cakes with the Orange Sauce and serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings or 8 crab cakes.

Orange Sauce:
1/3 cup low-fat sour cream
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
Dash sugar or to taste
Dash freshly ground black pepper