Crab Cakes Kit
Local Ocean's Classic
DUNGENESS CRAB CAKES
TIME: 15 minutes
SERVING SIZE: 2 crab cakes per kit
IN THE KIT
Dungeness Crab Cakes
Loose panko breading
Tartar Sauce
FROM YOUR PANTRY
1-2 tbsp oil or butter for cooking
Salt + pepper to taste Lemon wedges (optional)
STEPS
1. Prep the crab cakes - Pour the panko breadcrumbs onto a large plate or baking sheet. Put the crab cakes into the breadcrumbs and gently flatten to desired thickness. Don’t overwork and just coat the outside, or they will become dry. They should still be a little wet in the middle. Set aside.
2. Heat a large skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat with 1-2 tbsp oil or butter for cooking.
3. When your skillet is hot but not smoking, cook the crab cakes for about 3-5 minutes on each side, until they are golden brown and slightly crispy on the outside. Don’t overcrowd the pan - cook in batches or with two pans if you have to. If you have kept your crab cakes very thick, they may take a little longer to cook through.
4. Pull your crab cakes from the pan and place on a paper towel to drain away any extra oil. Serve hot with tartar sauce & lemon wedges.
ABOUT THIS RECIPE
Oregon Commercial crabbing began in 1889, with small boats working inland bays. By 1915, gas powered boat engines allowed fishermen to venture out to the open ocean. For the next 50 years, crab remained a minor fishery as salmon and tuna dominated the market. During this time, the city of Newport actually gave away a free crab to each visitor at its annual crab festival.
As the appetite for Dungeness crab grew, so did the number of crab fishermen. Between 1950 and 1980, the number of crab pots fished increased 20-fold. In 1995, managers capped the number of crab boats with limited entry permits. But the race for crab continued, fishermen boosted their crab pot usage. In response, managers restricted each boat to 200-500 pots.
Today, Dungeness crab accounts for about one third of the value of all Oregon commercial fisheries and is considered the economic backbone of the fleet. The season begins in December and runs through August, with 80-90% of the annual catch landing in the first two months. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Updated November 2nd, 2020