Lion's mane "crab" cakes

Lion's mane mushrooms make an excellent crab substitute for anyone who has a shellfish allergy or a vegetarian diet. This lion's mane recipe is a quick and easy recipe that anyone can make!

· Lion's mane is a cheaper alternative to crab meat.

· This lion's mane recipe can easily be made vegan by using an egg substitute and vegan mayo.

· Lion's mane mushrooms possess so many benefits. They aid digestion, support immunity, and increase cell regeneration.

INGREDIENTS

· Egg: To make this recipe vegan, you can use your preferred egg replacer.

· Mayonnaise: Vegan mayonnaise will also do just fine.

· Cajun seasoning: If you prefer, you can substitute it with cayenne or any Creole seasoning.

· Panko bread crumbs: You can use any store-bought or homemade breadcrumbs. You can also use Ritz cracker crumbs.

· Parsley: I used dried, but fresh/chopped is always better if you have it.

· Dijon mustard: Yellow mustard is the next best thing if you don't have or don't like Dijon.

· Serrano Pepper: Green bell peppers are a great alternative if you don't want any added heat.

· Celery: This can be omitted or replaced with diced onions.

DIRECTIONS

· Begin by shredding the lion's mane by hand into small pieces and add them to a medium-sized pot along with a pinch of sea salt and about 2 tablespoons of water. Cover and allow the mushrooms to sweat over low heat for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

· Allow the mushrooms to cool, then squeeze the excess water out of them. Place the mushrooms in a large bowl.

· Add mayonnaise, egg, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, celery, serrano, parsley, Cajun seasoning, and Panko breadcrumbs to the mushrooms. Mix thoroughly.

Pro tip: Allowing the mixture to chill in the fridge for at least an hour will make the patties easier to form.

· Form mixture (coating your hands in flour will make this easier). Coat each side with flour to absorb the surface moisture, then set on a flour-coated or parchment paper lined plate.

· Fry the cakes in a pan or skillet over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Transfer them onto a paper towel to absorb the excess cooking oil.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

Garnish your lion's mane crab cakes with sour cream and chives and serve with lemon garlic aioli, remoulade sauce, or sriracha aioli. You may also want to have some lemon wedges on the side.

A big thank-you to Hilda's Kitchen Blog for this recipe!