Best Fried Soft Shell Crab Recipes

FRIED SOFT-SHELL CRAB

Steps:

• Clean each crab. Lift one pointed side of top shell and remove the gills by pulling them out. Put top shell back down and repeat on other side. On the bottom side remove tail flap by twisting and pulling off. Using a pair of scissors, remove the face by cutting behind the eyes. Rinse the crabs thoroughly with cold water. Dry on paper towels.
• Heat oil in a deep fryer to 365 degrees F (180 degrees F). In a shallow dish, whisk together the egg and milk using a fork. In a separate bowl, stir salt and pepper into the flour. Lightly salt the crab, then dip in the flour, dip in the egg, then in the flour again.
• Carefully place crabs into the deep-fryer. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until golden brown on one side. Carefully turn over, and cook until golden on the other side. Drain on paper towels. Serve as soon as they are cool enough to eat. You can eat the whole crab.

DEEP-FRIED SOFT-SHELL CRAB

Steps:

• Heat 2 inches oil in a deep pot to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Whisk flour, bread crumbs, cornstarch, seafood seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and chili powder together in a bowl until evenly combined. Mix milk and eggs together in a separate bowl.
• Dredge each whole crab in the flour mixture, dunk in the egg mixture, then back in the flour mixture to coat.
• Lower crabs carefully into the hot oil. Fry until they start to float, then fry for an additional minute, flipping halfway through. Transfer to a paper towel-lined tray to drain oil. Serve immediately.

PAN-FRIED SOFT-SHELL CRAB WITH ROASTED FINGERLING POTATOES, PICKLED RAMPS, AND LEMON PUREE

Steps:

• Make the ramps: Separate white and green parts of ramps, reserving green parts for potatoes. Place white parts of ramps in container and set aside.
• In a large saucepan, mix together hot water, vinegar, sugar, salt, and schichimi togarashi, kochukaru, and white peppercorns, if using; bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Pour cooled mixture over ramps and cover; transfer to refrigerator for at least 3 days and up to 1 month. Drain before using.
• Make the potatoes: Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Place potatoes, garlic, and thyme in a large saucepan and add enough water to cover; generously season with salt. Place over medium-high heat and simmer just until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain and spread out on a baking sheet to cool completely.
• Cut cooled potatoes lengthwise on the bias. Heat grapeseed oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat and place potatoes cut-side down in skillet. Transfer to oven and cook until a nice brown crust appears, about 20 minutes. Return to stove over medium-high heat and add butter; cook basting with oil and butter mixture. Add reserved greens from ramps to skillet and season with salt; toss to combine and remove from heat.
• Make the crabs: Meanwhile, heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season crabs with salt and pepper and add to skillet. Cook until red and crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn crabs and add garlic, thyme, lemon slices, if using, and butter. Cook, basting with butter, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
• Spread 1 tablespoon lemon puree on each of 4 plates. Top with potatoes and crab; garnish with pickled ramps and serve immediately.

TEMPURA-FRIED SOFT-SHELL CRAB SANDWICHES WITH TARTAR SAUCE SLAW AND CRISPY OLD BAY CHIPS

Steps:

• For the tartar sauce slaw: Whisk together the cornichons, mayonnaise, capers, mustard, sugar, lemon juice, onion and some salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the cabbage and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• For the Old Bay potato chips: Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Spread the potato chips in an even layer on a baking sheet and bake, just to warm, 2 minutes. Put the Old Bay in a small mesh strainer and tap evenly over the chips; toss the chips lightly.
• For the soft-shell crabs: Set a rack in a baking sheet. Heat 3 to 4 inches of oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat until it registers 375 degrees F on a deep-frying thermometer. Whisk together 2 cups of the rice flour and 2 cups water until smooth, then season with salt and pepper and some hot sauce if using.
• Put the remaining 1 cup rice flour in a shallow dish and season with some salt and pepper. Sprinkle the crabs with salt and pepper.
• Dredge 2 crabs in flour and tap off the excess. Dip in the tempura batter, letting any excess run off. Fry until golden brown, crispy and just cooked through, turning occasionally, about 5 minutes. Drain on the rack. Repeat with the remaining 2 crabs.
• For the sandwiches: Put some of the slaw on the bottom of each bun and top with a fried crab. Add a bit more slaw and a tomato slice and top with chips. Close sandwiches with the tops of the buns and serve immediately.

PAN FRIED SOFT SHELL CRAB WITH GARLIC, LEMON, CHILI AND OLIVE OIL

Steps:

• Place crabs, jalapeno, garlic, lemon zest and parsley in a large bowl. Add 5 tablespoons of olive oil and toss lightly. Marinate for 2 hours. In another large bowl pour the lemon juice and slowly add the extra virgin olive oil whisking constantly. Season with salt and pepper. Toss vinaigrette with lettuce leaves and divide between 4 plates. Place a large non-stick sauté pan over high heat. Add remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil. Dust the crabs with a little flour and place in the hot pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side. Once crabs are crispy on the outside and cooked through, remove from the pan and serve over prepared salad.

FRIED SOFT-SHELL CRAB WITH CREOLE CHORON SAUCE

Steps:

• To fry the Soft-Shells: Heat the peanut oil to 360 degrees F in a Dutch oven. The Dutch oven should be large enough to have the oil about 3-4 inches deep and halfway up the sides of the pot. When the oil is hot dredge the crabs in the seasoned flour, shaking off any excess, then dipping into the batter. Be sure to completely coat the crabs and let any excess drip off. Carefully place the crabs into the oil upside down (this will make the claws stand up a bit for presentation.). Fry only two at a time maximum until they are golden brown and they float to the surface. Be sure to let the oil come back to temperature before frying the next batch. Drain on paper towels and season with Kosher salt. Caution - Soft-shells have a tendency to spit hot oil, or pop when the inside liquids heat up, so be careful.

RED LOBSTER'S FRIED SOFT-SHELL CRAB

Steps:

• 1. Clean crabs but do not remove top shell.
• 2. Rinse well in cool water.
• 3. Place the crabs on a sheet pan and season with salt, pepper, lemon, soy sauce, garlic power and onion powder, then refrigerate for at least two hours.
• 4. Place flour in one bowl, eggs in another, and bread crumbs in the last.
• 5. Roll each crab in the flour, dip in the eggs, and then coat with the bread crumbs.
• 6. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• 7. Heat a skillet with about one inch of oil.
• 8. Sauté each crab on one side for 4-5 minutes, turn and continue until each crab is crispy.
• 9. Place browned crabs in oven for 8 minutes until hot all the way through and crispy.