By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026
Serves 6
42 cal · 15 min
Rosie Mayes' Creole Crab Cakes
Recipe GLPR58e142a6b7331f
A vibrant Creole-inspired sauce featuring warm spices, garlic, and sambal heat balanced with sweet vinegar. This condiment pairs beautifully with seafood, vegetables, or rice dishes, delivering authentic Louisiana flavors with a modern twist.
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Ingredients
6 tablespoons warm water, divided
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 tablespoon sambal oelek
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon salt-free Creole seasoning
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
Directions
In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of the warm water until completely smooth and no lumps remain.
In a small saucepan, combine the distilled white vinegar, sugar, minced garlic, sambal oelek, soy sauce, and Creole seasoning over medium heat.
Stir the mixture frequently and bring it to a gentle simmer, allowing the sugar to dissolve completely, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Slowly pour the cornstarch slurry into the simmering sauce while stirring constantly to prevent lumps from forming.
Continue cooking and stirring for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and becomes glossy.
Stir in the red pepper flakes and the remaining 4 tablespoons of warm water to reach the desired consistency.
Remove from heat and allow the sauce to cool to room temperature before serving, or refrigerate for later use.
Comments
The 15-minute claim ignores mixing, shaping, and pan-frying the cakes, which realistically takes 25–30 minutes total. Sambal oelek is the hard stop: you'll need a special trip to Harris Teeter or ALDI's international aisle, adding real friction to a weeknight. The ingredient list reads more like a sauce than a crab cake—there's no crab, breadcrumbs, or binder listed—so this appears to be a glaze or sauce recipe rather than the finished dish, making it impossible to judge cost per serving or household fit without the full formula. If this is a weeknight go-to, budget the extra stop and clarify what the cakes themselves contain.
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