Crab Cakes with Tarragon Aioli
over Garlic Herb Risotto with Lemony Zucchini Ribbons
Creamy risotto swirled with garlic and herbs is pretty tough to top. Not according to our chefs, though! They found a way to make it even more delicious by adding a true game changer: panko-crusted crab cakes. These prepared patties add crunch and sumptuous seafood flavor to an already luxurious dish. A tangle of lemon-marinated zucchini ribbons perfectly offsets the dish’s richness, and a drizzle of tarragon aioli ties it all together. This dish is easy enough for a busy weeknight, but decadent enough to wow anyone invited to your dinner table.
2 unit
Veggie Stock Concentrate
1 unit
Yellow Onion
4 clove
Garlic
1 unit
Lemon
1 unit
Zucchini
1 tablespoon
Italian Seasoning
¾ cup
Arborio Rice
¼ ounce
Tarragon
2 tablespoon
Mayonnaise
()
¼ cup
Panko Breadcrumbs
()
10 ounce
Crab Cakes
()
4 tablespoon
Butter
()
2 teaspoon
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
Bring 4 cups water, stock concentrates, and salt to a simmer in a small pot over low heat. Wash and dry all produce. Mince garlic. Zest and quarter lemon. Trim ends from zucchini. Using a peeler, shave lengthwise into ribbons, rotating until you get to the seedy core. Dice core. Halve, peel, and dice onion.
Heat a large drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add zucchini core and onion. Cook, stirring, until softened, 1-2 minutes. Stir in rice, 2 TBSP butter, half the garlic, and half the Italian Seasoning. Cook, stirring, until rice is translucent, 1-2 minutes.
Add stock, ½ cup at a time, to pan with rice, stirring after each addition. Allow rice to absorb most of stock before adding more. Repeat process until rice is al dente and creamy, about 30 minutes. (TIP: If you run out of stock before risotto is al dente, use hot water.) Turn off heat.
Meanwhile, pick tarragon leaves from stems; discard stems and mince leaves. In a medium bowl, combine zucchini ribbons, juice from 2 lemon wedges, a large drizzle of olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, half the lemon zest, a squeeze of lemon juice, and a pinch of tarragon and remaining garlic (to taste). Season with salt and pepper.
Place panko on a plate. Pat crab cakes dry with paper towels; gently press both sides into panko to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Once risotto has simmered for 20 minutes, heat a large drizzle of olive oil in a medium pan over medium-high heat. Add crab cakes and cook until browned and crispy, 4-6 minutes per side. Turn off heat; transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.
Stir 2 TBSP butter into pan with risotto; season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of remaining Italian Seasoning, if desired. Divide between bowls. Top with crab cakes and zucchini ribbons (discarding any liquid). Drizzle crab cakes with aioli. Garnish with remaining lemon zest and tarragon, if desired. Serve with any remaining lemon wedges on the side.
