Crab croquettes with sriracha mayo dip

Method

• step 1

  Melt half the butter in a small pan over a medium heat and fry the red onions for 5-8 mins until soft but not golden. Remove to a small bowl, leaving any residual butter in the pan. Set aside. Add the remaining butter to the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low. Once melted, whisk in the flour. Cook for 1 min, then gradually whisk in the milk, a little at a time. When all the milk has been added and you have a glossy, smooth paste, cook for another 1 min, stirring continuously.

• step 2

  Remove from the heat and stir in the cooked red onions, lemon zest, parsley and spring onions. Leave to cool for a few minutes, then stir in the crabmeat and season lightly. Transfer to a bowl, cover and chill for at least 2 hrs or overnight.

• step 3

  When the crab mixture is cold and has firmed up slightly, tip the beaten egg into a shallow bowl and pour the breadcrumbs onto a plate. Working quickly, shape 2 tbsp of the crab mixture into a small patty (see tip, below). Coat this in the egg, then the breadcrumbs, ensuring the croquette is completely covered. Transfer to a plate or board, then repeat with the rest of the crab mixture, beaten egg and the breadcrumbs – you should get about eight croquettes in total.

• step 4

  Heat a 2-3cm depth of vegetable oil in a frying pan to 180C, ensuring the pan is no more than a third full. You can also test the temperature by dropping in a pinch of any residual crab mixture – it should sizzle and turn golden within a couple of minutes. Fry the croquettes in batches (not overcrowding the pan) for 1-2 mins on each side until golden and piping hot through the middle. Remove to a sheet of kitchen paper using a fish slice or slotted spoon and leave to drain while you fry the rest of the croquettes. To make the sriracha mayo, simply combine 1 tbsp sriracha with the mayonnaise, then transfer to a small bowl. Taste and add more sriracha if you prefer.

• step 5

  Serve immediately, or if you’re taking the croquettes to the beach, leave to cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container. Spoon the sauce into a sealed jar. Pack both in a cool bag to serve at your destination. Will keep chilled for up to two days.