Recipe Details

Mini crab cakes encrusted with sesame seeds get a kick from wasabi and soy sauce. The toppings of wasabi, mayonnaise, cucumber, and pickled ginger add creaminess, crispness, and tang, as well as color.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces jumbo lump crabmeat, picked over well and rinsed

• ¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons mayonnaise

• 2 scallions, trimmed and finely chopped

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 2 teaspoons wasabi paste

• 1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest

• ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons plain fresh or dried breadcrumbs

• 1 English cucumber, for garnish

• ½ cup all-purpose flour

• ½ teaspoon coarse salt

• ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

• 2 large eggs

• 1 tablespoon water

• ¼ cup sesame seeds

• ⅔ cup safflower oil, plus more if needed

• ½ cup drained pickled ginger, for garnish

Description

1. Flake crabmeat with a fork in a medium bowl; stir in 1/4 cup mayonnaise, scallions, soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon wasabi, and zest. Stir in 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour.

2. Meanwhile, stir together remaining 3 tablespoons mayonnaise and 1 1/2 teaspoons wasabi in a small bowl. Using a vegetable peeler, make 3/4-by-2-inch ribbons from cucumber (you'll need about 24 ribbons, or 1 for each cake). Fold each ribbon into thirds.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and pepper. In a small bowl, beat eggs with the water. In a shallow bowl, stir together sesame seeds and remaining 1/2 cup breadcrumbs.

4. Form 1 scant tablespoon crab mixture into a ball; dip in seasoned flour. Flatten into a 3/4-inch-thick disk about 1 1/4 inches in diameter. Repeat with remaining crab mixture. Dip cakes in egg mixture, then dredge in breadcrumb mixture.

5. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium until hot but not smoking. Add half the crab cakes; cook, turning once, until golden and crisp on both sides, about 1 1/2 minutes. Using a slotted spatula, transfer to paper-towel-lined plates to drain. Repeat with the remaining cakes, adding more oil if needed.

6. To serve, dot each crab cake with wasabi mayonnaise, and top with a cucumber ribbon and a piece of ginger.