Down East Crab Cakes

4 for big appetites or 6-8 for smaller appetites

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 4-8

Ingredients

• 1  lb  fresh-picked maine  crabmeat (or any other fresh crabmeat)
• 3  cups  unseasoned  dry breadcrumbs
• 1  tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 4 -5  dashes Tabasco sauce or 4 -5  dashes  other  hot pepper sauce
• 1  medium red bell pepper, finely minced
• 4  scallions, minced
• 1  stalk celery, finely minced
• 1  large egg
• 1  cup mayonnaise (approximately)
• 1⁄4 cup  additional  breadcrumbs, for coating
•  oil (for frying)

Directions

1. Combine crabmeat, breadcrumbs, mustard, hot sauce, bell pepper, scallions, celery and egg in a large bowl.
2. Add just enough mayonnaise to hold the ingredients together, being careful not to make it so moist that the mixture will fall apart.
3. Divide into 8 patties.
4. Coat with additional bread crumbs, then fry, four at a time, in hot oil until crispy and brown on all sides.
5. ***Patties can be made ahead of time and frozen- they freeze very well.