Yummy Crab and Quinoa Cakes | Slimming Eats Recipe (2024)

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Crab and Quinoa Cakes - delicious patties made with fresh crab, cooked quinoa, spices and served with a simple yoghurt dip.

Yummy Crab and Quinoa Cakes | Slimming Eats Recipe (1)

Crab Quinoa Patties

I love quinoa, it's one of my favourite things to use instead of rice, pasta etc and in little patties like these with some fresh crab, it makes delicious healthy patties.

These are great for packed lunches and taking on picnics as they can be eaten both hot or cold.

What is Quinoa?

Quinoa is what is known as a seudo grain, meaning it is actually a grain. It's known as a super food because of it's high protein and fibre. It's a great replacement for things like couscous too for those that are gluten free.

You can buy quinoa in various different types too. Regular quinoa which is the most common, then there is also tricoloured, red, golden and black as well as flakes, flour and crisps (chips). Of course the latter are not what would be classed as a free food on Slimming Eats.

1 cup of cooked quinoa packs about 8g of protein and 4g of fiber as well as amino acids, so it's a great food to add into your diet.

When cooked it has a slightly nutty taste and each grain looks like it has a little hair, which can be off putting to some, but trust me when I say it's really actually quite tasty.

Yummy Crab and Quinoa Cakes | Slimming Eats Recipe (2)

Canned Crab versus Fresh Crab

You may be wondering if you can use canned crab for these crab and quinoa patties? Personally fresh is so much better, the taste is just amazing. But if fresh crab is hard for you to source, then canned will work okay. Just make sure you fully drain any liquid and pat dry otherwise the patties may not form together. Also be careful not to overmix the ingredients, you want to try and keep flakes of crab in the patties.

Where I live in Canada is right in the middle of the Great Lakes area of Ontario, so crab is pretty expensive here and is hard to source sometimes fresh due to the fact we are not near the sea. We do have Snow Crab legs though and frozen crab meat or fresh crab meat that comes in a tub. Not quite the same as buying a fresh crab straight from the fishmonger in a coastal location though, but it's the next best thing.

Sides for Crab Quinoa Cakes

I serve these crab quinoa cakes a simple salad of baby greens or arugula with the yoghurt dip.

However a mixed salad is great too with some of the follow:

  • Crisp Lettuce or Baby Leaves
  • Cucumber
  • Tomatoes
  • Radishes
  • Beetroot
  • Onion
  • Peppers
  • Shredded Carrot
Yummy Crab and Quinoa Cakes | Slimming Eats Recipe (3)

More Crab Recipes

Looking for some other crab recipes? Check out these:

  • CRAB STUFFED SWEET POTATO
  • FRESH CRAB CAKES
  • CRAB AND CHILLI FRIED RICE
  • CRAB WITH RED PESTO SPAGHETTI
  • CREAMY CRAB CHILLI TOMATO PASTA
  • THAI CRAB CAKES

or head on over to myFull Recipe Indexwith over 900 delicious Slimming Eats and Weight Watchers friendly recipes all fully searchable by meal type, ingredients, value and smart points etc

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Yummy Crab and Quinoa Cakes | Slimming Eats Recipe (4)

Crab and Quinoa Cakes

Yield: 12 CAKES

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Crab and Quinoa Cakes - delicious patties made with fresh crab, quinoa and seasonings and served with a simple yoghurt dip.

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (120ml) of uncooked quinoa
  • 170g of crab meat (fresh or canned)
  • 1 cup (240ml) of fish stock (or you can use chicken or vegetable stock)
  • 1 red chili, finely chopped
  • 2 spring onions, finely chopped
  • pinch off black pepper
  • pinch of garlic salt
  • 1 teaspoon of paprika
  • little lemon zest
  • 2 eggs
  • olive oil spray

For the dip:

  • 1 cup (240ml) of fat free Greek yoghurt
  • fresh mint, finely chopped
  • juice and zest of half a lemon

Instructions

  1. Thoroughly rinse the quinoa under a running cold tap.
  2. Place in a saucepan and cover with the stock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until stock is absorbed (the quinoa grains should have what looks like a little hair on each grain). Turn off heat, but leave covered with the lid for about 10 mins, as the steam will continue to cook the quinoa.
  3. After 10 mins, fluff up the quinoa with a fork and allow to cool.
  4. In a large bowl, gently combine the quinoa, with the other ingredients. (Be careful not to over mix, as you want to keep big chunks of crab meat).
  5. Cover with cling film and refrigerate for about an hour.
  6. Preheat oven to 200c or 400f (gas mark 6)
  7. Grease a baking sheet with olive oil spray and then form the mixture into approx 12 medium sized patties.
  8. Place on the baking tray and bake in the oven (approx 30mins) until lightly golden all over. (you may want to carefully flip half way through cooking).
  9. While baking you can mix together all the ingredients for the dip.
  10. Serve with a side salad and the mint dip and Enjoy!!

Notes

Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:

  • Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
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Nutrition Information

Serving Size 3 Patties with dip
Amount Per ServingCalories 171Total Fat 3.1gSaturated Fat 0.7gCarbohydrates 16.9gFiber 2.1gSugar 2.9gProtein 14.4g

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Yummy Crab and Quinoa Cakes | Slimming Eats Recipe (7)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tracy Drane says

    That looks awesome, but I don't like seafood. Could I use chicken instead? Grilled or canned?

    Reply

    • Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says

      yep you sure can

      Reply

  2. Nikki says

    Can you use cous cous instead of quinoa??

    Reply

    • Shevy (Slimming Eats) says

      I personally haven’t tried, so couldn’t say.

      Reply

  3. Emma Saxby says

    These look lovely. I’d like to make them for Christmas Day evening buffet but don’t want to actually make them on Christmas Day. Can these be pre made the day before andcreheated? Can they be a few days before, frozen and thenteheated? Thank you

    Reply

    • Shevy (Slimming Eats) says

      Yes they should be fine or make the day before and reheat

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Yummy Crab and Quinoa Cakes | Slimming Eats Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes crab cakes stick together? ›

Egg – The egg will act as a binder for the cakes, so the patties don't break apart. Mayonnaise – Not only will this mayo add some tang to our cakes but it will also help bind them together. You can make your own mayo using my recipe or store bought mayo will be fine as well.

Is it better to fry or bake crab cakes? ›

Mayonaise, mustard, Worcestershire, lemon juice, and old bay are the only seasonings used. Is it better to bake or fry Maryland crab cakes? I prefer baking because you don't add additional calories via the cooking oil. Baking crab cakes with little filler is also easier and they are less likely to fall apart.

Why do my crab cakes fall apart when cooking? ›

While egg is a popular choice, it alone is not enough to make crab cakes retain their shape. A starch binder is also required. The key here is maintaining the proper balance, as too little binder means your crab cakes will fall apart, but too much will give your crab cakes an unfortunate texture.

Should I refrigerate crab cakes before cooking? ›

Refrigerate for 30 minutes: This is a key step in the recipe. Make sure the crab cake mixture is cold before you shape it into individual cakes. There is little filler in this recipe, so the cakes will fall apart if the mixture is not refrigerated before cooking. Grease baking pan & preheat oven.

Why are my crab cakes mushy? ›

Use too little filler and the crab cakes will fall apart. Too much, however, leaves them mushy and tasting like filler. Crab is something that should be treated simply. Don't over-season or add too many ingredients.

What is the best crab meat to buy for crab cakes? ›

Ready in 30 minutes, these cakes are the perfect easy dinner or impressive. Here's everything you need to know: The best type of crab meat for crab cakes: If you can, we highly recommend buying jumbo crab meat for your crab cakes.

What is the best oil to pan fry crab cakes in? ›

Some chefs and home cooks do recommend using olive oil (even the extra virgin kind). Additionally, unrefined coconut oil can be fun to use if you are trying out an alternative crab cake recipe that also contains coconut or other complementary ingredients.

How do you keep crab cakes from falling apart when frying? ›

Most sources recommend at least two hours of chill time before frying, but some suggest letting them sit in the cold for longer. You can safely let your mixture chill for up to 24 hours before you're ready to cook, and that extra time will only make it easier for the cakes to hold together during frying.

Can you get sick from undercooked crab cakes? ›

Cases of illness from infection occur after a person eats raw or undercooked infected crab or crayfish. The illness is known as paragonimiasis. Paragonimus infection also can be very serious if the fluke travels to the central nervous system, where it can cause symptoms of meningitis.

How do you tell if crab cakes are done? ›

Pan Fry from Thawed:

Pan Fry over medium heat in oil for approximately 3-4 minutes on each side. 2. Crab cakes are finished when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.

How to firm up crab cakes? ›

Place them on a baking sheet in the freezer just until firm, about 2 hours. Wrap each cake in plastic wrap and place in a plastic freezer bag. Freeze for up to 1 month. Defrost the crab cakes in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.

What store bought sauce goes with crab cakes? ›

Tartar sauce is a worthy partner for a batch of perfectly seasoned crab cakes. Along with remoulade, it's one of the sauces you're most likely to see served with crab cakes in American restaurants. Tartar sauce is somewhat similar to remoulade, but it's stripped down to basic components.

What is remoulade sauce made from? ›

Remoulade is a traditional French sauce, originally made with ingredients such as mayonnaise, herbs, capers, pickles, and perhaps some anchovy oil or horseradish. French cuisine has a lot of influence on Louisiana cuisine, and the Cajuns and Creoles have a lot of influence on Louisiana cuisine.

Are crab cakes healthy to eat? ›

Maryland Crabcakes are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and lean meat you can eat at any mealtime. Lean meat likes crabmeat help prevent damage to the arteries and reduce your risks of cardiovascular disease.

How to get crab cakes to stay together? ›

Refrigerate Your Crab Cakes

There's actually a pretty easy fix for this common problem. Simply stick your crab cakes in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. The time they spend there will allow the crab cakes to solidify their shape.

What is crab cake filler made of? ›

Crab cake filling: I go light on the filler, using juuuust enough to bind the crab cakes together. You'll need an egg, mayonnaise, chopped fresh herbs (I like parsley, dill, and tarragon!), Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, lemon zest, Kosher salt, and black pepper.

How do you separate crab sticks easily? ›

Like using a mixer to shred chicken, the beaters of the mixer easily pull apart the layers of the crab, creating a fine shred. Another option is to use a rolling pin, gently pressing and rolling over the crab sticks in their plastic packaging and laid out on a flat surface.

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