Recipe

Mill Creek Crab Cakes

Community Pick!

Mill Creek Crab Cakes

Photo by Midge

  • This recipe was entered in the contest for The Recipe You Want To Be Remembered For
  • boulangere's Testing Notes: Midge describes her approach to these crisp beauties as "minimalist." In terms of ingredients, she's absolutely right. Their richness lies in their link to growing up near the spectacular...

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  • Chef

    Midge's Notes: Like a lot of kids who grew up around the Chesapeake Bay, my siblings and I used to catch crabs in the creek near our house, scooping them up with a net as they fed on barnacle-encrusted pilings...

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Makes 4-5 crab cakes

  1. Pick through crabmeat and discard any shells, careful not to break up those lovely clumps that you paid so dearly for.

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  2. In a large bowl, beat egg. Fold in mayo, parsley, panko, mustard, Old Bay, and salt.

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  3. GENTLY fold in crab --I use my hands-- keeping those lumps intact. The mixture will likely be loose, but that’s okay. Shape into four or five patties. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.

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  4. Heat butter and oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until the butter stops foaming. Gently add the patties and sauté for about three minutes on each side or until they’re brown. I use two spatulas to flip them, but even if they fall apart, they still taste amazing. Serve with a squeeze of lemon.

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42 Comments on Mill Creek Crab Cakes

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Midge, I made these tonight and they were wonderful. I only had about 1/2 hour to chill them, so I made the cakes and put them on a tray in the freezer for about 1/2 hour before frying them. They were excellent, and only one fell apart. Thank you so much for a great recipe.

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

I'm so thrilled you liked them drbabs! Thanks so much for trying the recipe.

Img_2764 Reply

Congratulations on your EP! Richly deserved.

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

Thanks again for trying them and for your awesome review boulangere!

Me Reply

The Spouse insisted on making these last night and we LOVED them!

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

Wow, I'm so pleased! Thanks so much for letting me know.

Img_2764 Reply

Midge, I swear you could make these with crab-flavored cat food and the result would be divine. I had them last night, and used Dungeness since I'm closer to the Left Coast. The first few I ate straight out of the skillet, generously spritzed with fresh lemon. They were pretty heavenly. The last few I stuffed into a good sandwich roll along with some curls of red onion and slathered them with my sister's famous tartar sauce, which I just happened to have on hand. Now that was heaven. No wonder you chose this as that for which you most want to be remembered. I will certainly remember you for these. Thank you so much.

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

Wow boulangere, you've no idea how thrilled I am that you liked them. Thanks so much for testing them and for your kind remarks!

Img_2764 Reply

You misunderstand; I LOVE them.

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

:)

Img_2764 Reply

I'm the luckiest person alive today because I get to test these!

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

You're sweet boulangere, I'm honored that you chose them. Wish I had time to test a recipe this weekend. Your lovely cake is on my list!

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

Hope its works with dungeness if you go that route. My west coast brother has even made them with the crab that come in those tins (from the Philippines?) out of desperation and has reported decent results.

Cimg0737 Reply

I love, love crab cakes, and these sound wonderful. I guess I'd have to use dungeness crab, too, since I now live on the west coast. Thanks for the definition of Natty Bo -- was wondering about that, too!

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

Thank you civ!

Sausage2 Reply

Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe and memory with us, Midge. I loooooove crab cakes, and these sound so good!

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

thank you fiveandspice!

Img_1958 Reply

These sound wonderful, Midge! Thanks for a lovely memory and recipe.

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

thanks gingerroot!!

Dsc_0382 Reply

I'm not a Marylander but I live in MD now and there is nothing like a good crab cake like this one! Better than Cantler's by far!

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

Thanks healthierkitchen! Funny, I just had a Cantler's crab cake last time I was down there!

Steve_dunn02 Reply

I've no idea what a Natty Bo is, but never mind, I'd eat these babies with ANYTHING! - S

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

Ha! Thanks Oui, Chef. Sorry, that's National Bohemian, sort of the Baltimore PBR.

Lorigoldsby Reply

I was also wondering what Natty Bo was, and so glad someone asked so I didn't have to wonder for more than a few seconds. Don't know about Cantler's...but I know this is how we like our crabcakes, "minimalist" becomes "MAXIMUS" flavor! how long before summer tomatoes and corn are ready? I think this one will be worth the wait--those side dishes will elevate this to a feast.

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

Oops, meant to change that Natty Bo reference to plain old beer. And yes, tomatoes and corn are key!

Mrs Reply

Great memory, Midge! These sound fantastic!

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

thanks mrsl! So excited to make your choc stout cake this weekend.

Mrs Reply

Woohoo! I'm excited too! Hope you like it as much as we do.

Meg_b_f52 Reply

This looks like a great Maryland crab cake recipe, Mill Creek on Eastern Bay? Those Eastern Bay crabs are unbeatable!!

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

thanks meganvt01! My Mill Creek is the one near Annapolis..

Me Reply

My first exposure to crab cakes came on my first visit to Baltimore, and I was hooked. I simply ADORE crab cakes and these sound wonderful! I've always used cracker crumbs in my crab cakes but I'm going to try panko. Thanks for posting this!

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

I agree, having a crab cake is usually the first order of business when I go home!

Shamrock-medal Reply

Perfect recipe choice, Midge! We have dungeness crab out here, so I'd probably have to sub!

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

thanks so much hla! I look forward to trying dungeness someday.

Shamrock-medal Reply

Head on over to the West Coast!

Img_2764 Reply

I'm closer to the dungeness end of the crab spectrum, too. There is nothing like a great crab cake that actually tastes like crab. I am very much looking forward to trying these next week. Thank you so much, Midge!

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

thanks boulangere! Would love to know how they work with dungeness.

Img_2764 Reply

It's a promise!

Copy_of_me Reply

Yum, and I am with the dungeness crowd, being from the PacNW, but didn't you tell me you lived this way for a while..I believe in my old hometown - Pt. Townsend?

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

thanks lapadia. Yes, I lived in PT for a year, but was too busy eating all that tasty salmon and halibut to try dungeness ;)

Jc_profilepic Reply

Mmmmmmm I love crab cakes, these sounds great and I like your photo!

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

thank you Sadassa_Ulna! They are truly my favorite and now I'm craving them big-time!

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