If crab cakes scream summer to you, it’s time to get a fresh perspective. Lovely French restaurant Sel de la Terre has put a twist on this seasonal staple, and it’ll make you think outside the shell. Two crab cakes are gently pan-seared and placed atop a salad of sautéed cabbage, greens, fresh shell peas, and carrots. The cakes are deliciously creamy, with a perfect consistency — lightly crunchy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth-smooth on the inside. The seasoning is subtle, tasting of red pepper, chive, and cilantro. The vegetables are done al dente and served slightly warm beneath the crab. The whole dish is then topped with a smidgen of spicy remoulade and a drizzle of lemon-thyme vinaigrette. The outcome is a rich and earthy dish — the perfect salad for fall.

Available for $12 at lunch and brunch at Sel de la Terre, 255 State Street, in Boston. Call 617.720.1300.