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Crispy Crab Cakes with Avocado Grapefruit Salsa Recipe

Crispy Crab Cakes with Avocado Grapefruit Salsa are full of luscious crab meat that you’ll love sinking your teeth into.

Crispy Crab Cakes with Avocado Grapefruit Salsa Photo
(Meghan Bassett)

I’ve always wished I could have spent more time on the East Coast growing up… I remember going out to Cape Cod and Florida throughout my younger years to visit grandparents and my vast extended family. I would spend hours each day playing on the beach and in the ocean, returning with sandy feet to a big family dinner every night.

Of course, as a child who was a ridiculously picky eater, I never truly appreciated all the seafood that was right freaking there. It’s really such a shame; I could have eaten my weight in lobster if I wanted to (yes, I may have been a slightly spoiled only child when I was little…).

Now I realize what an opportunity my tiny little self missed out on. All that fresh seafood was right there… At that age though, I generally refused to eat anything that wasn’t mac and cheese or hamburgers with only ketchup slathered on them.

Crispy Crab Cakes with Avocado Grapefruit Salsa Picture
(Meghan Bassett)

Thank God I developed a palate and became obsessed with food in my young adult years. I may have missed out on a ton of fresh seafood, but I have been making up for it ever since. I will seek the fresh stuff out every opportunity I get. I may be in a landlocked state right now, but I can track it down if I’m craving it.

Lately all I’ve been craving is a nice and crispy crab cake, filled with luscious lump crabmeat… So I treated myself to some fresh crab at a local seafood shop here and made these bad boys to curb my appetite.

Related: Learn how to eat soft shell crab.

Crispy Crab Cakes with Avocado Grapefruit Salsa Image
(Meghan Bassett)

Personally I love my crispy crab crakes fresh and simple. I like to really highlight the flavor and texture of the crab, instead of loading it up with too many veggies and other wacky ingredients. These crispy crab cakes are allllll about the crab. They are irresistibly crisp on the outside, silky smooth and fresh on the inside.

To compliment all that crab, I whipped up an avocado grapefruit salsa that is both bright and a little hearty with those chunks of rich avocado. It’s just the summery accompaniment these crab cakes need.  

Crispy Crab Cakes with Avocado Grapefruit Salsa Pic
(Meghan Bassett)

If your mouth isn’t watering right now, there’s something seriously wrong with you. Just saying… 

And if you love seafood, why not check out this post all about caviar!

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Crispy Crab Cakes with Avocado Grapefruit Salsa Photo

Crispy Crab Cakes with Avocado Grapefruit Salsa Recipe

Meghan Yager
Crispy Crab Cakes with Avocado Grapefruit Salsa are full of luscious crab meat that you’ll love sinking your teeth into. The salsa…
No ratings yet
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Resting 1 minute
Total Time 1 hour 16 minutes
Cuisine Seafood
Servings 8 1 large crab cake
Calories 223 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1/3 cup Mayonnaise
  • 1 Egg Beaten
  • 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • pinch of Ground Cayenne Pepper
  • 1 pound Fresh Lump Crab Meat Picked over
  • 1/2 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup Canola Oil Or vegetable oil
  • 1 Avocado Pitted, peeled, and cubed
  • 1 large Grapefruit Segmented and chopped
  • 1 jalapeños Jalapeño Seeded and diced
  • 1 tablespoon Lime Juice
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh Cilantro Chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt

Instructions
 

  • Whisk together mayonnaise, egg, lemon juice, Dijon, Worcestershire, garlic powder salt, pepper and cayenne in a small bowl.
  • In a medium bowl, toss crab with panic breadcrumbs. Fold in the mayonnaise mixture and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
  • To make the salsa, combine avocado, grapefruit, jalapeño, lime juice, cilantro, and salt in a small bowl, stirring gently to incorporate it all. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
  • Divide the crab mixture into 8 portions and form 8 patties, approximately 1-inch thick.
  • Heat canola or vegetable oil over medium high heat in a large skillet. Once hot, add half of the crab cakes. Cook until golden brown, approximately 2 to 3 minutes per side. Repeat the cooking process with the remaining patties.
  • Serve immediately with salsa on a bed of arugula or frisee.

Notes

  • If you have chipotle or chili infused olive oil, add an extra drizzle of this when ready to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 223kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 12gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 610mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3g
Keyword Avocados, Dinners, Family Meals and Snacks, Fried, Grapefruit, Lunches, Salsa, Seafood
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