Baltimore Ravens Crab Cake Burger

I grew up in Maryland, and remember tearing into the bushels of blue crabs covered in Old Bay tossed out on the picnic table. So it was easy to choose the Crab Cake burger for the Baltimore Ravens.

For a long time now, I've been a West coaster, and for this recipe, I had to use Dungeness crab (still a fine crab), but I kept the Old Bay seasoning that is the mainstay of East Coast crab.  Spread out on the bun is a homemade tartar sauce, which is really simple, and I show you how to make.  Don’t forget to sear off the bun for a bit of extra texture, that really makes the burger!

• 2 burger buns
• 16 ounces of crab meat 
• 1 egg, beaten
• ½ cup of mayonnaise
• 1 Tablespoon mustard 
• 1 cup Panko crumbs
• 2 Tablespoons chopped green onion 
• 1 Tablespoon of Old Bay seasoning
• 2 Tablespoons of parsley
• Ketchup
• Relish
• Lettuce
• Tomato
• 1 Lemon 
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• ½ teaspoon of pepper
• Olive oil 

1. Place the crabmeat in a large bowl.
2. Add some Panko crumbs.
3. Add the beaten egg.
4. Add 1 tablespoon of mustard.
5. Squeeze in the juice from half a lemon.
6. Add parsley.
7. Add 1 Tablespoon of green onion.
8. Add mayo.
9. Add salt and pepper.
10. Mix gently with your hands.
11. Form portions of the crab mixture into patties 1 ½ inches thick.
12. Place the formed patties on wax paper and refrigerate for an hour. 
13. Make Tartar sauce by mixing the following ingredients:
14. 3 Tbs Mayonnaise
15. 1 Tbs Relish
16. 1 Tbs Ketchup
17. 1 Tbs Mustard 
18. Juice squeezed from half a lemon
19. 1 Tbs of green onion
20. 1 Tbs parsley
21. 1 Tbs Old Bay seasoning
22. Remove patties from fridge, and coat with more Panko crumbs.
23. Heat an oiled skillet.
24. Cook patties over a medium heat for about 4 minutes.
25. Flip patties and cook for another 4 minutes.
26. Toast a split, buttered roll.
27. Remove crab cakes from pan and place them on the buns.
28. Add homemade Tartar sauce
29. Top with lettuce and tomato.
30. Add top of bun and cut the sandwich in half.

This burger may require a few additional steps, but the succulent flavor of authentic Maryland Crab Cakes is well worth the effort.  

Suggestion:  Sear the bun for a bit of extra texture.  That really makes the burger!