Crab Cakes with Tarragon Aioli over Garlic Herb Risotto with Lemony Zucchini Ribbons

🥘 Ingredients

• arborio rice
  1 c
• butter
  4 tbsp
• crab cakes
  4 pieces
• garlic
  3 cloves
• italian seasoning
  2 tsp
• lemon
  1 unit
• mayonnaise
  3 tbsp
• olive oil
  3 tbsp
• panko breadcrumbs
  ½ cup
• tarragon
  1 bunch
• veggie stock concentrate
  2 pouches
• yellow onion
  1 unit
• zucchini
  2 units

🍳 Cookware

• small pot
• large pan
• medium bowl
• small bowl
• medium pan

1. 

   1

   Bring 4 cups water, veggie stock concentrate , and salt to a simmer in a small pot over low heat. Wash and dry all produce. Mince garlic . Zest and quarter lemon . Trim ends from zucchini . Using a peeler, shave lengthwise into ribbons, rotating until you get to the seedy core. Dice core. Halve, peel, and dice yellow onion .

   veggie stock concentrate: 2 pouches, garlic: 3 cloves, lemon: 1 unit, zucchini: 2 units, yellow onion: 1 unit
2. 

   2

   Heat a large drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add zucchini core and onion. Cook, stirring, until softened ⏱️ 2 minutes . Stir in arborio rice , butter , half the garlic, and half the italian seasoning . Cook, stirring, until rice is translucent ⏱️ 2 minutes .

   olive oil: 3 tbsp, arborio rice: 1 c, butter: 4 tbsp, italian seasoning: 2 tsp
3. 

   3

   Add stock, ½ cup at a time, to pan with rice, stirring after each addition. Allow rice to absorb most of stock before adding more. Repeat process until rice is al dente and creamy, about ⏱️ 30 minutes . (TIP: If you run out of stock before risotto is al dente, use hot water.) Turn off heat.
4. 

   4

   Meanwhile, pick tarragon leaves from stems; discard stems and mince leaves. In a medium bowl , combine zucchini ribbons, juice from 2 lemon wedges, a large drizzle of olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper. In a small bowl , combine mayonnaise , half the lemon zest, a squeeze of lemon juice, and a pinch of tarragon and remaining garlic (to taste). Season with salt and pepper.

   tarragon: 1 bunch, mayonnaise: 3 tbsp
5. 

   5

   Place panko breadcrumbs on a plate. Pat crab cakes dry with paper towels; gently press both sides into panko to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Once risotto has simmered for ⏱️ 20 minutes , heat a large drizzle of olive oil in a medium pan over medium-high heat. Add crab cakes and cook until browned and crispy ⏱️ 6 minutes per side. Turn off heat; transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.

   panko breadcrumbs: ½ cup, crab cakes: 4 pieces
6. 

   6

   Stir remaining butter into pan with risotto; season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of remaining italian seasoning, if desired. Divide between bowls. Top with crab cakes and zucchini ribbons (discarding any liquid). Drizzle crab cakes with aioli. Garnish with remaining lemon zest and tarragon, if desired. Serve with any remaining lemon wedges on the side.