Thai crab cakes

Thai crab cakes

Thai crab cakes

These make a delicious starter, or transform into a main course with rice noodles.

Ingredients

• 1lb 2oz (500g) white crabmeat
• 4oz (115g) green beans, trimmed
• and finely chopped
• 1 green or red chile, seeded and
• very finely chopped
• 1 tsp lemongrass, very finely chopped
• finely grated zest of 1 lime
• 1 tbsp Thai fish sauce
• 1 tbsp finely chopped Chinese chives
• or garlic chives
• 1 egg white, lightly beaten
• flour, to dust
• vegetable oil, for deep-frying
• lime wedges, to serve
• Flake the crabmeat into a bowl, picking it over carefully to remove any small, sharp pieces of

shell. Mix in the green beans, chile, lemongrass, lime zest, fish sauce, and chives.

Add the egg white, stirring to bind the mixture together. Dust your hands with flour

and shape the mixture into 20 small balls. Flatten them slightly into round cakes, place

on a plate or board, spaced slightly apart so they don’t stick together, and chill for 1 hour,

or until firm. Heat the oil to 325°F (160°C) in a large pan of deep-fat fryer (see page 308).

Dust the crab cakes with flour and deep-fry them in batches

for 3 minutes, or until golden. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels and serve warm with lime wedges.

Prepare ahead

The crab cakes can be assembled, covered,

and chilled up to 1 day ahead. The flavors

will deepen. Return them to room temperature

before continuing.