1Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion, and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the celery and bell pepper; continue cooking until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the mustard and cayenne pepper; cook 2 minutes. Scrape the mixture into a mixing bowl and refrigerate until cold.
2Stir the mayonnaise into the chilled vegetable mixture along with the soft bread crumbs, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, parsley, and beaten egg. Stir until combined, then gently fold in the crab meat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour the dry bread crumbs into a shallow bowl. Form the crab mixture into 8 cakes, 1/2 inch thick. Press the crab cakes into the bread crumbs one at a time until coated on all sides. Gently shake off excess crumbs, and place the crab cakes onto a plate. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour to overnight.
3Prepare the vinaigrette by whisking 3/4 cup vegetable oil with the zest of 1 lemon, lemon juice, ginger, jalapeno, sugar, and salt. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
4Heat the frying oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. While the oil is heating, toss the mixed salad greens with the vinaigrette in a mixing bowl, and divide onto 8 serving plates. Arrange the sliced avocado over the salads, and set aside.
5Once the oil is shimmering with heat, fry the crab cakes until golden brown on each side, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Briefly drain on a paper towel-lined plate to rid the cakes of excess grease. Place a crab cake on top of each salad and serve immediately.
Footnotes
Editor's Note
The nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of the breading ingredients. The actual amount of the breading consumed will vary. We have determined the nutritional value of oil for frying based on a retention value of 10% after cooking. The exact amount will vary depending on cooking time and temperature, ingredient density, and the specific type of oil used.