Crab Legs and Crab Cakes
Steamed, baked or microwaved, Crab Legs always turn out delicious
At the holidays or any time of year, crab legs make a delicious, healthy and easy-to-make meal. Use your leftover crab leg meat to make zesty crab cakes.
Any time of year is a good time for crab legs. This delicious main course seems to defy conventional standards… it’s light yet filling, rich yet healthful, basic yet festive. And best of all, it’s easy, easy ,easy to make.
With Mini Meal Plans, you cook once for two different and delicious dinners. The Mini Meal Plan uses the leftover main ingredient from one night’s dinner to make an entirely different dinner another night.. This time it's crab legs and crab cakes. Visit the more than 40 other great Mini Meal Plan recipes at Mini Meal Plan: Cook Once…. Eat Twice.
There are three easy methods for cooking crab legs that we will discuss. They include steaming, baking and – surprise – microwaving. Either method works great, as crab legs are frozen right after they are precooked by the supplier. You can defrost crab legs overnight in the freezer if you choose, but there is really no need. Each of these methods keeps the moisture infused, and each of these methods brings good results.
Cooking Crab Legs
Serves 4 with leftovers for meal 2
Ingredients
- Approximately 4 pounds crab legs
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ lemon, cut in wedges
1. Steamed Crab Legs
Fill a very large pot filled ¼ of the way with water. Add crab legs, cover and steam as the water boils for about 8 minutes.
2. Baked Crab Legs
Bake in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for eight or nine minutes.
3. Microwaved Crab Legs
Wrap crab legs in a large quantity of dampened paper towels. Microwave for 5 minutes.
After either method, cool slightly and remove from shells. Squeeze fresh lemon juice on meat, and serve immediately with melted butter if desired.
Baked Crab Cakes
Ingredients
- Leftover crab meat (approximately ¾ pound)
- 15 Ritz crackers, smashed
- 1 egg
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- ½ cup diced celery
- ¼ cup diced green onions
- ½ teaspoon vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
In a large bowl, break apart crab meat with a fork. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Form into patties. Place on baking sheet treated with cooking spray. Bake in preheated 350°F (180° C) oven for approximately 20 minutes or until edges are slightly browned.
Serve with Dijon Mustard Sauce
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Dijon Mustard
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
- 1 teaspoon Hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons Mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons White wine
Combine all ingredients and blend well. Chill before serving.
Crab cakes may also be deep fried, if preferred. Heat ¼ cup oil in a large pan on stove and fry approximately 3 minutes per side.
Some great ways to serve crab cakes include over rice, or on a toasted roll topped with shredded lettuce and Dijon mustard sauce.
