Crab cakes?

Hi all, being primarily vegetarian my whole life, I never tried much meats & seafood.. Just started experimenting w/diff things post VSG (chicken/tuna salads, etc). I've heard a lot of hype abt crabcakes on here as well as from outside.. IF I were to try & taste my very first one, which one would you all recommend as the best? Also always wondered, what exactly does it taste like (similar dishes)?

I see the frozen & ready-made fresh ones in stores that you hv to recook but I'm hesitant to try this since I don't know anything abt how long to cook meats/seafoods, when is it 'done', etc. So I thought maybe trying an ordered one from a good eatery (long John silvers?), any input appreciated, Thx!

If you've never had them before, I would order it as an appetizer at a restaurant and share it with someone.  They are made primarily with Crab and some type of breading, onions, etc. to hold them together.  I'm not sure how to describe them but there is a restaurant here that makes them and they use an aeola sauce and they are to die for.  To cook I think you just put them in a pan with a  little spray and brown.  The crab is already completely cooked so you are just warming them up/browning them.

Joe's Crab Shack is good.

Please, never buy the frozen ready to eat!!!!!!!!!!  They are nasty!
For recipes try cookinglight.com and myrecipes.com
Try a real seafood restaurant, not Long John Silvers, or any fast food place

they are very easy to make - lump crab, onion, bread crumbs, egg....  lots of good recipes out there...


jeris

Hello? This is crab-cake heaven (Maryland) calling.  Never, ever, use anything but Blue Crab in crabcakes - (Dungeness in Crab Looies, and other salads, okay,  but please not in a real crab-cakes)  Go to the highest quality restaurant you can afford and order them broiled, not fried.  If, and it's a big IF, they're doing it right, a bite or two will make your sleevie tingle.... 

PS - while it may have a slightly elevated sugar content, depending on the mfgr., the surimi (artificial crab) sold in most markets can be a tasty treat, esp. in salads, but it does not heat well and should generally not be used in cooking.    Pop-Pop

 I've had some with bits of shrimp and crawfish as well, awesome.  Plus some creole seasoning or any spices you like....taste great.  Was not sure about healthiness but with the quantity I can eat...

I live in Maryland too.  We use Old Bay Seasoning, mayo, breadcrumbs and blue crab.  Ok now I think I know what I am having for dinner tonight!

Not sure about the frozen ones....someone else might be able to answer that.

But I ordered the mini appetizers from mimi's cafe and then came back to my computer to see the calorie count and it was like 600 calories....I about died! 

those calories hide everywhere.

 Ugh..i was abt to try the "mini" ones from mimi's cafe as well.. but thanks for the heads up on the calories, i guess the breadcrumbs, etc all add up (even tho it's high in protein). 1 crabcake from long john's show abt 170 calories, 9 grms fat, 16 grms carbs and 6 grms protein (pretty low after all) on their nutrition site.. oh well

i guess since im just breaking into seafood, i wanted to avoid anything that might have a very FISHY taste and easier to introduce (if you know what i mean).. lol NO 

Thanks to all for your responses!