Crab croquettes with sriracha mayo dip
- Preparation and cooking time
- Prep:
- Cook:
- plus at least 2 hrs chilling
- More effort
- Serves 8
Ingredients
- 50g butter
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- 40g plain flour
- 200ml milk
- 1 lemon, zested
- small handful of parsley, finely chopped
- 2 spring onions, finely sliced
- 200g crabmeat (we used half white and half brown crabmeat)
- 1-2 eggs, beaten
- 80g panko breadcrumbs
- vegetable oil, for frying
For the sriracha mayo
- 1-2 tbsp sriracha
- 6 tbsp mayonnaise
Method
- STEP 1
Melt half the butter in a small pan over a medium heat and fry the red onions for 5-8 mins until soft but not golden. Remove to a small bowl, leaving any residual butter in the pan. Set aside. Add the remaining butter to the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low. Once melted, whisk in the flour. Cook for 1 min, then gradually whisk in the milk, a little at a time. When all the milk has been added and you have a glossy, smooth paste, cook for another 1 min, stirring continuously.
- STEP 2
Remove from the heat and stir in the cooked red onions, lemon zest, parsley and spring onions. Leave to cool for a few minutes, then stir in the crabmeat and season lightly. Transfer to a bowl, cover and chill for at least 2 hrs or overnight.
- STEP 3
When the crab mixture is cold and has firmed up slightly, tip the beaten egg into a shallow bowl and pour the breadcrumbs onto a plate. Working quickly, shape 2 tbsp of the crab mixture into a small patty (see tip, below). Coat this in the egg, then the breadcrumbs, ensuring the croquette is completely covered. Transfer to a plate or board, then repeat with the rest of the crab mixture, beaten egg and the breadcrumbs – you should get about eight croquettes in total.
- STEP 4
Heat a 2-3cm depth of vegetable oil in a frying pan to 180C, ensuring the pan is no more than a third full. You can also test the temperature by dropping in a pinch of any residual crab mixture – it should sizzle and turn golden within a couple of minutes. Fry the croquettes in batches (not overcrowding the pan) for 1-2 mins on each side until golden and piping hot through the middle. Remove to a sheet of kitchen paper using a fish slice or slotted spoon and leave to drain while you fry the rest of the croquettes. To make the sriracha mayo, simply combine 1 tbsp sriracha with the mayonnaise, then transfer to a small bowl. Taste and add more sriracha if you prefer.
- STEP 5
Serve immediately, or if you’re taking the croquettes to the beach, leave to cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container. Spoon the sauce into a sealed jar. Pack both in a cool bag to serve at your destination. Will keep chilled for up to two days.
