Marylanders love their seafood, especially crabs, and the crab cake is a great way to enjoy the meat of this local delicacy.
Crab cake might be a weird name for a food dish for people who don’t know what it is, but it is a diet staple for many people in this area of the country. Marylanders love their seafood, especially crabs, and the crab cake is a great way to enjoy the meat of this local delicacy. So what is a crab cake? Continue reading to identify some fun facts about crab cakes.
What’s A Crab Cake?
The term cake in a crab cake, in this instance, is being used to describe the shape and style of the dish rather than the taste – crab cakes are a savory dish, not a sweet one. The term was first used in 1930 in a recipe for Baltimore Crab Cakes. They are kin to croquettes or patties, traditionally served in Europe and brought over by settlers. Crab cakes are usually made with crab meat, eggs, salt and pepper, and some filler-like breadcrumbs formed together into a patty. Occasionally veggies like chopped onion or pepper are also added in, and some recipes call for milk. Everyone who makes crab cakes has their recipe, but the basic ingredients are usually the same. These recipes often also include crab seasoning in the Maryland area, like Old Bay.
Boardwalk Or Restaurant?
Most places that serve crab cakes will offer them either broiled or fried. Often if the crab cakes are going to be fried, they will also be breaded first to produce a crispier outside texture. This is sometimes referred to as boardwalk style, and the crab cake is served on a bun. This contrasts with the restaurant style, which would be served on a platter and usually have very little filler in the recipe. These terms are falling out of everyday use, however. And usually, people order them as fried or broiled and as a sandwich or on a platter.
What Kind Of Crab?
A crab cake can be made with almost any crab, but it won’t accurately represent a Maryland crab cake (and it probably won’t be as good). King crab legs are delicious, but not for this recipe. The best crab cakes are made with a combination of lump crab meat from the back fin and the less popular flaky crab meat from the rest of the crab’s body. Using both allows for a better consistency as the body meat mixes with the egg and other ingredients, and the lumps stand out in tasty bites.
COSTAS INN IS YOUR SEAFOOD DESTINATION FOR THE BEST CRABS IN BALTIMORE!
Costas Inn has been an area icon, slinging the best crabs in Baltimore since 1971. So here’s to 50 years, and cheers to 50 more!
You may recognize our restaurant recently featured on the Food Network with Michael Symon on Burgers, Brew, and ‘Que! We were also voted the 2015 #1 Baltimore Seafood Restaurant by USA Today and #1 Crab Restaurant 2014 in the Baltimore Business Journal. You may have also spotted Costas Inn during one of our nine appearances on the Today Show or heard one of our many interviews on WJZ TV Channel 13 with Ron Matz and Marty Bass.
You can enjoy our famous crab cakes in-house or order them online for any time eating. We also provide some of the best seafood catering in the Baltimore area! Of course, you can also get your fill from Costas even when you’re not in our dining room: follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube!