Crab Fritters with Sriracha Aioli

By Valarie

Ingredients

• 1 pound Lump Crab Meat
• 2 cups Béchamel Sauce (cooled)
• Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper
• 1 Jalapeno (minced)
• 1 cup Cilantro Leaves (chopped)
• 1 cup Basil Leaves (chopped)
• Zest of 1 Lime
• Flour (to dredge)
• 2 Eggs (whisked; to dredge)
• 2 cups Crushed Tortilla Chips
• Olive Oil (to fry)
• Bechamel Sauce
• 4 tablespoons Butter
• 1/4 cup Flour
• 2 cups Milk
• Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper
• Sriracha Aioli
• 1 cup Mayo
• Juice of 1 Lime
• 3 tablespoons Sriracha
• Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper

Details

Servings 6
Cooking time 30mins
Adapted from abc.go.com

Preparation

Step 1

1

Olive Oil

Preheat oil to 360°F.

2

2 cups Béchamel Sauce (cooled)
1 pound Lump Crab Meat
Salt
Freshly Ground Pepper
1 Jalapeno (minced)
1 cup Cilantro Leaves (chopped)
1 cup Basil Leaves (chopped)
Zest of 1 Lime

In a large bowl, fold together the Béchamel, Crab Meat, a pinch of Salt and a few cracks of Freshly Ground Pepper, Jalapeno (using less for less spicy,) Cilantro, Basil, and Lime Zest. Once incorporated, form into fritters about the size of ping pong balls.

3

Flour (to dredge)
2 Eggs (whisked; to dredge)
2 cups Crushed Tortilla Chips
Salt

Dredge the fritters in Flour, then Egg. Roll the fritters in the Tortilla Chips and fry for 2-3 minutes, until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel lined plate and season immediately with Salt.

4

4 tablespoons Butter
1/4 cup Flour
2 cups Milk
Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper

To make Bechamel: Heat the Butter in a saucepot over medium heat, and once it has foamed and subsided, add the Flour and stir together, cooking until it resembles a wet sand. Whisk in the Milk and bring to a boil, whisking continuously until no lumps remain. Season with Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper.

5

1 cup Mayo
Juice of 1 Lime
3 tablespoons Sriracha
Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper

To make the Sriracha Aioli: Whisk together the Mayonnaise, Lime, and Sriracha. Use more or less of the Sriracha to adjust the heat.

Helpful Tips:
1. The béchamel gives the fritter a molten inside.
2. The fritters can be breaded in advance and refrigerated until frying.