The best crab cake recipe
These vegan crab cakes will blow your mind! They taste like the real thing but better since they are vegan. The texture is so spot on that you will be doubting whether there is real crab in them. The combo of flaky smashed chickpeas and hearts of palm mixed with the usual suspects produces a crispy on the outside and flaky and soft on the inside fritter. Serve with the basic slaw and special sauce for an amazing flavor combo. This vegan crab cake recipe was inspired by the crab cakes served at the Sole Proprietor in Worcester during the 90s. They served them with a tangy sauce and crunchy slaw like this one.
What is a crab cake?
Crab cakes are fritters made with crab mixed with breadcrumbs and spices. They are mostly associated with the area surrounding Maryland and Virginia. Most crab cakes use lump crab. Crab cakes are a staple food for fancy brunches and dinners. My vegan crab cakes are made with hearts of palm in place of the crab for texture and meatiness and I added seaweed flakes to give the flavor of the ocean. I daresay that these vegan crab cakes are better than the real thing.
INGREDIENTS FOR VEGAN CRABCAKES
The ingredients for these vegan crab cakes are simple and mostly easy to find. If rice crackers are hard to find, substitute any cracker you like.
CRABCAKE INGREDIENTS
- chickpeas
- hearts of palm
- gluten-free rice crackers
- seaweed flakes
- salt
- lemon
- celery
- green onions
- red bell pepper
- cilantro
- hot smoked paprika
- old bay seasoning
- vegan mayo
BASIC SLAW INGREDIENTS
- cabbage
- red cabbage
- red pepper
- lemon
- cilantro
- salt
SPECIAL SAUCE INGREDIENTS
- vegan mayo
- lemon squeezed
- old bay seasoning
- hot smoked paprika
- cayenne
- sweet relish
- ketchup
HOW TO MAKE VEGAN CRABCAKES
This recipe is very easy to make. It involves some mashing, some chopping, a little mixing and air frying. Minimal effort for maximum return.
- Into a large bowl add mashed chickpeas, mashed hearts of palm, blitzed rice cracker crumbs, seaweed flakes, salt, lemon, celery, green onion, bell pepper, cilantro, smoked paprika, old bay and vegan mayo. Knead and mix with hands until thoroughly combined and you can form patties that will stick together.
- Make 9 crabcake patties.
- Spray your air fryer grate with olive or avocado oil then place the crabcakes gently in the basket so that they are not touching. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to do two batches.
- Air Fry for 8 minutes at 400 degrees. Flip carefully then airfry for 8 more minutes. Continue in batches until all of your crabcakes are crispy, golden and delicious.
- Serve with basic slaw and special sauce.
HOW TO MAKE BASIC SLAW
- To a large bowl add cabbage, pepper, lemon, cilantro and salt. Mix until combined.
HOW TO MAKE SPECIAL SAUCE
- In a small mixing bowl add vegan mayo, lemon, old bay, hot smoked paprika, cayenne, sweet relish and ketchup.
- Whisk until combined.
- Taste for your preference and adjust spice level by adding more cayenne if desired.
Other delicious air-fried recipes
Vegan Crabcakes
Ingredients
CRABCAKES
- 1 can chickpeas drained and mashed
- 1 can hearts of palm drained and mashed gently
- 20 gluten-free rice crackers blitzed in the blender into crumbs
- 1 tsp seaweed flakes
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 lemon squeezed
- 1 stalk celery chopped tiny
- 2 green onions whites and green parts chopped
- ¼ red bell pepper seeded and small chop
- 2 tbsp cilantro chopped
- 1 tsp hot smoked paprika
- 1 tsp old bay seasoning
- 2 tsp vegan mayo
BASIC SLAW
- ½ head cabbage shredded
- ¼ red cabbage shredded
- ¼ red pepper diced small
- 1 lemon squeezed
- 2 tbsp cilantro chopped
- pinch salt
SPECIAL SAUCE
- 2 tbsp vegan mayo
- 1 lemon squeezed
- 1 tsp old bay seasoning
- 1 tsp hot smoked paprika
- 1 dash cayenne
- 1 tsp sweet relish
- 1 tsp ketchup
Instructions
FOR CRABCAKES
- Into a large bowl add mashed chickpeas, mashed hearts of palm, blitzed rice cracker crumbs, seaweed flakes, salt, lemon, celery, green onion, bell pepper, cilantro, smoked paprika, old bay and vegan mayo. Knead and mix with hands until thoroughly combined and you can form patties that will stick together.
- Make 9 crabcake patties.
- Spray your air fryer grate with olive or avocado oil then place the crabcakes gently in the basket so that they are not touching. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to do two batches.
- Air Fry for 8 minutes at 400 degrees. Flip carefully then airfry for 8 more minutes. Continue in batches until all of your crabcakes are crispy, golden and delicious.
- Serve with basic slaw and special sauce.
FOR BASIC SLAW
- To a large bowl add cabbage, pepper, lemon, cilantro and salt. Mix until combined.
FOR SPECIAL SAUCE
- In a small mixing bowl add vegan mayo, lemon, old bay, hot smoked paprika, cayenne, sweet relish and ketchup.
- Whisk until combined.
- Taste for your preference and adjust spice level by adding more cayenne if desired.