What to Do with Leftover Crab Meat? Make Crab Cakes!

One of my favorite holiday-time appetizers is crab dip. I like the recipes that call for the dip to be creamy and cheesy, with a little melted cheese (care of the broiler) on top; the classic Hot Crab Dip recipe from Food Network is a good starting point if you’re looking for a recipe.

Once you’re done with a recipe like that though, you may find yourself with leftover crab meat. What do you do with it, you may ask? Make your own crab cakes! While it might seem intimidating to some to take on these crustacean fritters–which seem like the kind of thing most of us buy out of the freezer aisle–making crab cakes is, in fact, very similar to making meatballs. If you can make one, you can make the other. Try this recipe from the Barefoot Contessa, and remember, like all recipes, it can be fun to experiment with different flavor combinations (think about making Thai-inspired crab cakes with shredded coconut and curry powder!). Serve your crab cakes with aoili or on a bed of lettuce (I’m favoring Bibb or Buttercrunch right now). Super-fast and low in calories, it’s a great entree to add to your repertoire.