Crab Cakes from Maryland Governor's Kitchen

Ingredients

• 1 lb crabmeat, picked clean
• 1/4 cup saltine crumbs, about 5-6 crackers
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning (optional)
• 2 egg whites, beaten stiff
• 1/2 cup canola oil, up to 1 cup to reach 1/4-inch oil in pan

Directions

1. 1

   Pick through crab meat twice to remove cartilage or shell. Try not to break up lumps of Backfin. Keep crabmeat chilled during process by putting ice cubes in a large mixing bowl then placing a slightly smaller bowl inside to hold the picked meat. After the first picking, feel for missed cartilage while returning crab meat to the crab meat container. Chill crab meat until ready to mix.

2. 2

   Put saltine crackers in a mini-food processor and process to a fine crumb. Alternatively, tear slices of bread into small pieces and put in mixing bowl.

3. 3

   Add regular mayonnaise and yellow mustard to mixing bowl. For the Eastern Shore purists, the addition of Old Bay seasoning is controversial, but Baltimore residents won't call it a crab cake without some; one teaspoon adds a subtle taste.

4. 4

   Beat egg whites until stiff, then fold into filler mixture.

5. 5

   Gently fold in reserved crab meat.

6. 6

   Make 4 to 6 cakes, pressed gently together. Chill covered in refrigerator for at least 1 hour to set cakes.

7. 7

   Fill frying pan to 1/4-inch with canola oil. Heat canola oil to 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Gently place crab cakes in oil and fry for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Use spatula (and fork, if necessary) to carefully turn crab cakes. Fry for another 2-3 minutes.

8. 8

   Drain oil from crab cakes on paper towels, then serve hot with some saltine crackers on the side.

9. 9

   TO BROIL: Since these crab cakes have the minimum amount of filler required to hold them together, you may broil them on a lightly oiled baking sheet (1 tablespoon oil) 4-6 inches away from the heat source until golden brown. If you use low-calorie mayonnaise, this would be the preferred way to cook the cakes.

10. 10

    TO MICROWAVE: Only use 1/2 tablespoon of oil to brush on a large flat plate. Microwave plate for 2 minutes on HIGH to heat oil. Place cakes on plate and microwave for 7 minutes on HIGH.