Serves 4 first-courses or 2 main-dish servings


2 cups lump crabmeat
3 tablespoons minced scallions
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
2 tablespoons oriental sesame oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
juice of 1 lime
to taste chili oil
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs

For sauce:
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon oriental sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
peanut oil for frying
For garnish, sprigs of fresh cilantro

Pick over crabmeat to remove any cartilage. put it in a food processor and add 2 tab lespoons scallions, the ginger, cilantro, mustard, sesame oil and soy sauce. Pulse about 4 times, just to blend the ingredients without shredding the crabmeat too finely.
Transfer the crabmeat to a bowl and fold in half of the lime juice, the chili oil to taste and the egg whites.
Form the mixture into 8 equal size patties, about 2½ inches in diameter. Lightly coat each patty with bread crumbs, put them on a plate, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least an hour.
Heat a film of the peanut oil in a large nonstick skillet. Sauté the crab cakes over medium-low heat until they are lightly browned. Serve with the mayonnaise mixture on the side and sprigs of cilantro for garnish.
For the sauce:
Mix the mayonnaise with the remaining lime juice, soy sauce, sesame oil and scallions and set aside.

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