1 1 pound loaf thinly sliced
-white bread, crusts removed
3/4 lb Shrimp, peeled, deveined and
-cleaned with salt
3 tb Vodka or gin
1 lg Egg white
1 ts Coarse or kosher salt
1/4 ts Freshly ground white pepper
2 oz Fresh pork fat, minced by
-hand or in a food processor
-(1/4 cup), or 1/4 cup heavy
-cream
1/3 c Finely chopped fresh water
-chestnuts or jicama
2 tb Finely chopped cilantro
-stems or celery leaves
2 Scallions, white part only,
-finely chopped
1 tb Peeled, grated gingerroot
3/4 lb Fresh crabmeat
About 2 tablespoons olive
-oil for dipping
Corn oil for deep-frying
Pineapple Salsa
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
Cut the bread into 1/4-inch dice and place on a nonstick baking sheet. Bake
for about 30 minutes, without turning, or until the bread is dry, do not
let the cubes brown.
Dry the shrimp well with paper towels, then place in a food processor. Add
the vodka or gin and puree. Spoon the shrimp puree into a medium bowl; set
aside.
Lightly beat the egg white with the salt and white pepper in a small bowl.
Mix into the shrimp puree. Stir in the pork fat or cream. Add the water
chestnuts or jicama, cilantro stems or celery leaves, scallions and
gingerroot and mix until thoroughly combined.
Gently fold the crabmeat into the shrimp mixture (the crabmeat should
remain lumpy).
Have the bread cubes ready in a large bowl on one side of the crabmeat
mixture. Place the olive oil in a small bowl on the other side. Oil a
tablespoon by dipping it into the olive oil, then scoop up 1 heaping
tablespoon of the shrimp-crab mixture and place it on top of the bread
cubes. Repeat, placing 5 or 6 spoonfuls of the crabmeat mixture on the
bread cubes, spacing them so they do not touch.
Use your hand to roll each lump of crabmeat into the cubes, forming a ball
as you work. Gently flatten each ball into a small cake, about 2-inches in
diameter; place the crab cakes on a platter or a baking sheet.
Pour about 6 inches of oil into a skillet or fryer and heat to 325 degrees.
Fry the crab cakes in batches until they are golden, turning once, for 3 to
4 minutes on each side; do not crowd. Remove the crab cakes with a slotted
spoon and drain on paper towels.
Serve with Pineapple Salsa.
Yield: 20 to 30 crabcakes
NOTES : Cooking Live
Yields
1 Servings