Title: One Hundred Corner Crab Cakes
Categories: Chinese Shellfish
Yield: 20 Servings

1	lb	Loaf thinly sliced white
		Bread, crust removed
3/4	lb	Shrimp, peeled, deveined and
		Cleaned
3	tb	Vodka or gin
1	lg	Egg white
1	ts	Coarse or kosher salt
1/4	ts	Ground white pepper
2	oz	Fresh pork, minced
1/3	c	Fresh water chestnuts or
		Jicama, finely chopped
2	tb	Cilantro stems or celery
		Leaves, finely chopped
2		Scallions, white part only,
		Finely chopped
1	tb	Ginger root, peeled, grated
3/4	lb	Fresh crabmeat
2	tb	Olive oil for dipping
		Corn oil for deep-frying
		Pineapple Salsa (recipe
		Follows)
1	c	Fresh pineapple, preferably
		Very ripe, coarsely chopped
2	lg	Tomatoes, peeled, seeded and
		Coarsely chopped
1/4	c	Red onion, coarsely chopped
1		Jalapeno pepper,cored,
		Seeded and finely chopped
1/2	c	Fresh cilantro leaves,
		Finely chopped
1/2	c	Bottled Bloody Mary Mix
		(available in most
		Supermarkets and liquor
		Stores)
1	ts	Coarse or kosher salt
		Freshly fround pepper
		Juice of 1 lime

Preheat oven to 250 degs.F Cut the bread into 1/4 inch dice and place on a nonstick baking sheet. Bake for about 30 minutes without turning or until the bread is dry. Do not let the cubes brown. Dry the shrimp well with paper towels, then place in food processor. Add the vodka or gin and puree. Spoon the shrimp puree into a medium bowl, set aside. Lightly beat the egg white with the salt and white pepper in a small bowl. Mix into the shrimp puree. Stir in the pork fat or cream. Add the water chestnuts or jucame, cilantro stems or celery leaves, scallions and gingerroot and mix until throughly combined. Gently fold the crabmeat into the shrimp mixture (The crabmeat should remain lumpy).

Have the bread cubes ready in a large bowl on one side of the crabmeat mixture. Place the olive oil in a small bowl on the other side. Oil a tablespoon by dipping it into the olive oil, then scoop up 1 heaping tablespoon of the shrimp-crab mixture and place it on top of the bread cubes. Repeat, placing 5-6 spoonfuls of the crab meat mixture on the bread cubes, spacing them so they do not touch. Use your hands to roll each lump of crabmeat into the cubes,forming a ball as you work. Gently flatten each ball into a small cake, about 2 inches in diameter. Place the crab cakes on a platter or a baking sheet.

Pour about 6 inches of oil into a skillet or fryer and heat to 325 degF. Fry the crab cakes in batches until they are golden, turning once, for 3-4 minutes on each side. Do not crowd. Remove the crab cakes with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve with Pineapple Salsa.

PINEAPPLE SALSA

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Mix well and allow to stand for 1 hour before serving. This salsa can be refridgerated, covered, for up to 1 week.

source: Susanna Foo Chinese Cuisine Lei Gui, Bronx NY http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/3658

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