Crab cakes facts for kids
A crab cake is a yummy American dish. It's like a patty made mostly from crab meat. Other ingredients are added too, such as breadcrumbs, milk, eggs, onions, and different seasonings. Sometimes, people even add colorful red or green peppers!
After mixing, the crab cake is cooked. It can be sautéed (cooked quickly in a pan), baked in an oven, or grilled. Crab cakes are often served as a main meal. They are especially famous in the area around the Chesapeake Bay, which is near the state of Maryland.
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Types of Crab Cakes
In Maryland, there are two main types of crab cakes you might find.
Boardwalk Style
Boardwalk crab cakes are usually deep-fried. This means they are cooked in a lot of hot oil until they are crispy. They often have a breaded coating and sometimes have extra stuffing inside. You might find them served on a hamburger bun, like a sandwich.
Restaurant Style
Restaurant crab cakes are sometimes called "gourmet" crab cakes. These are different because they have almost no "filler" ingredients. They are made mostly from large pieces of crab meat, called "lump crab meat." These fancy crab cakes are usually served on a plate or as an open-faced sandwich. Many restaurants let you choose if you want your crab cake fried or broiled. Broiled crab cakes are cooked under direct heat, which makes them lower in fat and a bit healthier.
What Kind of Crab?
You can make crab cakes with meat from any type of crab. However, the most traditional kind uses meat from the blue crab. Blue crabs live naturally in the Chesapeake Bay area, which is why they are so popular there.
Along the coast of the Mid-Atlantic States, where a lot of crabbing happens, crab cakes are very popular. They can be small, like a cookie, or as big as a hamburger! Crab cakes are usually served with a special sauce. Popular choices include remoulade sauce, tartar sauce, or even ketchup.
In the Pacific Northwest part of the United States, a different crab is popular. This is the Dungeness crab, which lives only in that region. Dungeness crab meat is known for its delicate and sweet flavor. Many restaurants in the Pacific Northwest use Dungeness crab to make their delicious crab cakes.
Images for kids
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Crab cake served on a bun, from a tavern in Maryland.
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Crab cakes topped with greens, served at a London museum
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Crab cakes with sweet potato fries and cole slaw, as served at a Massachusetts restaurant
See also
In Spanish: Crabcake para niños
