Crab cakes with fresh lime. Credit: Vanda Lewis.

Mariner’s Menu
Crab Cakes with Fresh Lime, Sautéed Tuna Steaks with Tarragon, and More

BY VANDA LEWIS & JOYCE TAYLOR

Mariner’s Menu, North Carolina Sea Grant’s popular online seafood guide, features blogger and photographer Vanda Lewis’s pictures with hundreds of recipes the late Joyce Taylor developed. Enjoy these spring treats — and visit MarinersMenu.org for more. 

CRAB CAKES WITH FRESH LIME

In a medium bowl, combine egg, mayonnaise, Tabasco, lime juice, salt, cayenne, and cilantro.

Blend in bread crumbs. Gently blend in crabmeat, being careful not to break the meat apart.

Shape into 6 patties or 8 cakes. Coat lightly with 1 cup of bread crumbs.

Heat oil and butter in a skillet to 375° F.

Add the crab cakes to the skillet, and cook until golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.

Garnish with lime wedges.

image: Sautéed Tuna Steaks with Tarragon. Credit: Vanda Lewis.

Sautéed Tuna Steaks with Tarragon. Credit: Vanda Lewis.

SAUTÉED TUNA STEAKS WITH TARRAGON

In a small bowl, mix the wine and tarragon.

Lightly salt and pepper the fish. Melt the butter in a large skillet and heat. Add the steaks and cook about 5 to 6 minutes per side or until done. Spoon tarragon wine over the steaks as they cook. Place the fish on a serving platter, and pour the remaining wine mix over them.

image: Herbed Mediterranean Snapper. Credit: Vanda Lewis.

Herbed Mediterranean Snapper. Credit: Vanda Lewis.

HERBED MEDITERRANEAN SNAPPER

Preheat the oven to 450° F.

In a small bowl, combine olive oil, garlic, basil, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, paprika, cumin, turmeric, and pepper.

Lightly salt the fish. Place the fish in a lightly greased baking dish. Brush the mixture over the fish. Bake at 450° F until done, about 10 to 12 minutes.

image: Coquilles St. Jacques. Credit: Vanda Lewis.

Coquilles St. Jacques. Credit: Vanda Lewis.

COQUILLES ST. JACQUES

Place the rack in the top third of the oven, and preheat the broiler.

Place the wine, water, onion, bay leaf, parsley, and salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the scallops. Return to a simmer, and cook until the scallops are done, about 5 or 6 minutes. Remove the scallops with a slotted spoon, then set them aside. Remove the bay leaf and parsley, then reserve the cooking liquid.

In a small bowl, combine the cheese and breadcrumbs. Set aside.

In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Sauté the mushrooms until tender, about 5 minutes. Blend in the flour. Add the cream slowly, stirring constantly. Add the cooking liquid. Continue to cook until it is thickened and smooth. Stir in the lemon juice and pepper. Thin with more cream, if needed.

Add the scallops in the cream sauce. Place the scallop cream sauce in four individual shells or ramekins. Sprinkle with the bread crumb mixture. Broil about 4 inches from heat until bubbly and lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

 

For hundreds of free seafood recipes, visit: MarinersMenu.org.

from the Spring 2022 issue of Coastwatch magazine