If you want to wow everyone at your next summer party, make these simple Crab Cake Sandwiches with Spicy Remoulade! The crab cakes are seared to perfection in just a few minutes, and each bite of the homemade spicy remoulade is a flavor explosion! From making them to eating them, you’re going to love everything about this simple seafood staple!.
Cool drinks, family and friends, and most of all, seafood are some of the things that come to mind when I think of summer. Seafood is tasty all year, but there’s nothing better than eating these crab cake sandwiches on a warm summer day. They’re a perfect entree for backyard pool parties, dinner at the beach house, and so much more!.
If you want to save some time, you could buy frozen crab cakes and make them instead of making fresh ones. But I promise you that this easy crab cake recipe is SO much better than anything in a dirty cardboard box! Jumbo lump crab meat is mixed with flavorful ingredients like fresh lemon zest, dijon mustard, and your favorite hot sauce to make an unbelievably delicious crab cake.
I always drizzle (and sometimes douse) the crab cakes in spicy remoulade to make these sandwiches taste even better. It only takes seconds to make and is so good that I don’t think I could eat one of these sandwiches without it. Key ingredients like hot sauce, lemon juice, and creole mustard are mixed with a variety of strong spices to make one very strong sauce!
Crab cake sandwiches are a delicious meal but finding the right sauce to complement them can really take them to the next level. The sauce helps add moisture flavor, and contrasting textures to balance out the crispy exterior and soft interior of the crab cake. But with so many options for sauces and condiments out there, how do you choose what will go best on a crab cake sandwich?
Factors to Consider for Sauce Selection
When selecting a sauce for crab cakes there are a few key factors to keep in mind
Flavor Profile
Think about the dominant flavors in your crab cake recipe. Do they tend to be more savory spicy, herby tangy, etc? Choosing a sauce that complements or contrasts the prevailing flavors in the crab cake can make sure it enhances the sandwich rather than competes with it.
Texture
The texture of the sauce matters too. Creamy, rich sauces can balance out the crispy exterior of crab cakes nicely. However, sometimes a thinner, vinegar-based sauce provides a welcome contrast. Consider the overall mouthfeel you want for the bite.
Origin
Crab cakes have strong ties to certain coastal cuisines like Maryland and New Orleans. Using a sauce with roots in those areas can provide an authentic, regional touch.
Popular Sauce Options
Taking those factors into account, here are some of the most popular sauces people use on crab cake sandwiches:
Remoulade
Remoulade is a mayonnaise-based sauce that originated in France but has become a staple condiment of Louisiana cuisine. It typically contains things like creole mustard, horseradish, lemon juice, capers, herbs, and hot sauce. The creamy base pairs nicely with the crab cake texture, while the blend of spices and acidity cuts through the richness.
Tartar Sauce
Tartar sauce has a mayonnaise base similar to remoulade. However, it gets its flavor from chopped pickles and other crisp, tangy ingredients like capers, onions, and olives. This is a fresher, lighter option that allows the crab flavor to remain the star.
Cocktail Sauce
Cocktail sauce has tomato ketchup as its base instead of mayonnaise. It packs a punch of tangy tomato flavor, usually enhanced with horseradish. The ketchup helps cling to the crab cake while the horseradish spice complements the sweet crabmeat.
Aioli
Aioli is a garlicky mayonnaise sauce that originated in the Mediterranean. Using an aioli on your crab cake can provide a major flavor punch while keeping the texture creamy. Aiolis made with saffron, lemon, or herbs are especially good complements.
Hollandaise
The rich, eggy base of hollandaise is a decadent pairing with lumps of crab meat. It can be infused with different citrus flavors or spices to complement crab cakes with zesty, dynamic notes.
Building the Perfect Sandwich
Sauce is just one part of constructing the ideal crab cake sandwich. Here are some other tips:
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Bread – A sturdy bread or roll that can stand up to the moist crab filling without getting soggy is best. Brioche, potato rolls, or pretzel rolls are good choices.
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Assembly – Spread sauce on both the top and bottom buns to prevent the bread from getting soggy.
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Lettuce – Crisp lettuce adds texture and moisture balance. Butter lettuce or iceberg work well.
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Veggies – Tomatoes, shredded cabbage, and thinly sliced onions make tasty additions.
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Cheese – A slice of sharp cheddar or pepper jack can take the sandwich up a notch.
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Extras – Bacon, avocado, pickles, and roasted red peppers provide extra flavor and texture.
At the end of the day, trust your personal preferences to decide what sauce suits your ideal crab cake sandwich. The beauty of making it yourself is getting to customize to your tastes. So explore different options and keep tweaking until you create the perfect blend of flavors, textures, and styles. Your coastal-inspired sandwich will be the envy of the table!
How to Make Them
In less than 30 minutes, you can make these simple crab cake sandwiches with spicy remoulade. I use my favorite crab cake recipe to make the best sandwich for the sea ever.
Pick. In a medium bowl, carefully pick over the crab meat and remove any shells. Don’t skip this step! No one wants to bite into a hard, crunchy shell in their sandwich.
Stir. Add the Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, egg, pepper, lemon zest, and parsley to a small bowl. Mix the ingredients together.
Fold. When you add the mayonnaise mixture to the crab, be careful not to break up the crab meat too much as you fold everything together. Gently fold in the breadcrumbs.
Form and chill. Eight patties should be made from 1/3 cup of the crab mixture. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Chill for 15-20 minutes.
Cook. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the crab cakes and cook over medium heat until golden, approximately 3-4 minutes. Turn the crab cakes over with a spatula. Cook until golden brown, crispy and cooked through, which should take approximately 3 minutes.
Make the remoulade. Mix the hot sauce, garlic, capers, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, salt, and cayenne pepper with the mayonnaise, mustard, and lemon juice. Cover and chill until ready to use.
Assemble. Place the bottom half of the roll on a plate and top with lettuce. Put the crab cake on top of the lettuce and cover it with 1 tablespoon of remoulade sauce. Top with the tomato and sprouts, if desired. Place the top of the roll on the sandwich, and serve immediately! Enjoy!.
How long will everything stay fresh?
In an airtight container in the fridge, the crab cakes will stay fresh for 3-4 days. To warm them up again, just put them back on a skillet and cook them on both sides until they are warm all the way through.
The spicy remoulade sauce will stay fresh for up to two weeks in a glass jar with a tight lid. If you want to try it in something else tasty, try making Southern Fried Green Tomatoes!
What else can I top my sandwich with?
For extra flavor, sprinkle a little Old Bay seasoning on top of your crab cake. A little goes a long way.
Lettuce, coleslaw, and thinly sliced red onions are all also mouthwatering on these sandwiches.
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