Crab Cakes with Lemon Yogurt
Restaurant-style crab cakes that are nearly all crab: lump crab meat, a light panko binding, Dijon and seafood seasoning, pan-seared golden and served with a sharp lemon-chive yogurt. Two cakes for 230 calories — the appetizer-menu classic reclaimed as a lean dinner.
Method
-
Mix the panko, egg, mayo, Dijon, seafood seasoning, Worcestershire, half the chives, and the lemon zest into a paste.
-
Fold in the crab gently, keeping the lumps as intact as possible, and shape into 8 cakes. Chill 15 minutes.
💡 Tip: Fold like it owes you money and you want it intact. Lumps are the luxury. -
Whisk the yogurt with the lemon juice and remaining chives for the sauce.
-
Sear the cakes in the oil over medium, 4 to 5 minutes a side, until deep golden. One careful flip.
💡 Tip: If a cake resists the spatula, it is not ready to turn. Give it another minute. -
Serve two per person with the lemon yogurt and extra lemon.
Notes
Canned or pouched lump crab works well — drain it thoroughly and pick through for shell.
Minimal binder is the whole philosophy. These are crab held together, not breading flavored with crab.
Chill the shaped cakes 15 minutes so they survive the flip.
A gentle hand in the pan: one flip, no prodding.
Nutrition Information
| Calories | 230kcal |
| Total Fat | 8g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 11g |
| Protein | 27g |
Get Our FREE “Food Made Simple” Cookbook
Enjoy simple, balanced meals that make eating healthy feel effortless. Sign up below to receive 24 easy, dietitian-approved recipes straight to your inbox.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are restaurant crab cakes so much heavier?
Fryer oil and mayo, mostly — many are deep-fried and bound with a heavy mayonnaise mix, pushing a two-cake appetizer past 500 calories before the remoulade. These pan-sear in one measured tablespoon of oil with just enough binder to hold, and the crab itself is naturally lean.
Fresh, canned, or imitation crab?
Refrigerated pouch or canned lump crab is the sweet spot of price and quality — drain hard. Fresh picked crab is glorious if available. Imitation crab is mostly pollock and starch; it works mechanically but roughly halves the protein, so it gets an honest no from us.
What do I serve them with?
Over a lemony green salad they stay a 350-calorie dinner; alongside our Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes they make a 440-calorie plate. They also shrink neatly into party-sized cakes — 16 small ones, same macros per crab.
More Than Just Recipes
Get Personalized Nutrition Coaching
Love this recipe? Imagine having complete nutrition guidance tailored to your goals, plus 1-on-1 coaching to keep you on track.
- 1-on-1 support from certified nutrition coaches who guide you every step
- Custom macro targets based on your goals, preferences, and lifestyle
- Track your progress with our app and see sustainable, long-term success
Try 2 Weeks Free
Start your journey with expert coaching. Free for 2 weeks. No credit card required.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to review this recipe!
Leave a Review
Made This Recipe?
Share it with 500K+ members in our Facebook community!