Best Grilled Softshell Crab Salad With Green Garlic Vinaigrette Recipes

SOFT-SHELL CRAB SALAD WITH GREEN GODDESS DRESSING

Steps:

• To make the green goddess dressing: Simply puree the ingredients together in a blender, until light green and creamy. Cover and stick the dressing in the fridge to allow the flavors to come together.
• To prepare the soft-shell crabs: Pour the buttermilk in a shallow bowl large enough to hold all the crabs. Season the buttermilk with crab boil seasoning, salt, and pepper. Lay the crabs in the buttermilk mixture and marinate, covered, in the refrigerator for 1 hour; soaking the crabs in buttermilk helps plump them up when cooked. Remove the crabs from the milk bath and let the excess drip off.
• Pour 2 inches of oil in a heavy frying pan or large pot and heat to 350 degrees F.
• Put the flour in a pie dish or plate and season with a fair amount of salt and pepper. Dredge the crabs in the seasoned flour to coat, shaking off the excess. Lay the crabs in the hot oil in a single layer without crowding; you may have to fry them in batches. Be careful, the crabs have a tendency to pop and spatter. Cook the crabs for about 3 minutes on each side, turning once, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
• To assemble the salad: combine the watercress, lettuce, and onion slices in a mixing bowl. Pour in 1/2 cup of the green goddess dressing, tossing to coat. Arrange the salad on a serving platter, put the fried crabs on top, and grate the hard boiled egg over the whole thing. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve immediately.

GRILLED SOFT SHELL CRABS WITH JICAMA SALAD

Steps:

• Combine jicama, cucumber, and 1/2 cup chopped cilantro in a medium bowl. Dress with 4 tablespoons olive oil and 4 tablespoons lime juice. Season with salt, mix well and set aside.
• In a separate bowl, combine tomatoes, chiles, garlic, onions, avocado and remaining chopped cilantro. Dress with remaining lime juice, season with salt, mix gently and set aside.
• Lightly brush a hot grill or grill pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Brush crabs with remaining 2 tablespoons oil, then place on grill and cook until firm, about 2 or more minutes on each side.
• To serve, divide jicama salad and tomato-avocado salsa between four plates. Top each plate with 2 crabs and garnish with cilantro sprigs and lime wedges.

CRISPY SOFT-SHELLED CRABS WITH BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Prepare an ice-water bath with lightly salted water. Add salt to boiling water, return to a boil, and add beans or peas. Cook until just tender but still crunchy, 1 to 2 minutes. Drain and immediately transfer to prepared ice-water bath to cool; drain.
• Place tomatoes and beans or peas in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper. Add basil and toss to combine.
• In a shallow bowl, beat together milk and eggs. In another shallow bowl, mix together flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. Dip each crab in milk mixture to coat, and then dredge completely in flour mixture.
• Set a wire rack over a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Heat peanut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it reaches 350 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer. Season crabs with salt and pepper. Working in batches, fry crabs until deep golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to prepared wire rack. Continue frying until all crabs have been cooked.
• Drizzle salad with olive oil; toss to combine. Divide salad evenly between 4 plates and top each with 2 fried crabs. Serve immediately with garlic mayonnaise.

FRIED GREEN TOMATO AND CRAB SALAD WITH SUMAC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat approximately 2-inches oil in large, heavy skillet to 325 degrees F. An electric- fryer can be used.
• Sprinkle both sides of tomatoes with salt and pepper. Combine the cornmeal, flour and Creole seasoning in a shallow dish. Dredge the tomatoes in the cornmeal mixture and fry until golden brown. Remove from the oil and drain on paper towels.
• For the vinaigrette:
• Add the vinegar, sumac, and salt and pepper to a small bowl. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until combined. Remove and reserve 4 tablespoons. In a large bowl, add enough arugula for 4 servings. Pour the vinaigrette over the arugula and toss. Divide the arugula on serving plates, arrange 2 to 3 fried green tomatoes on the arugula and top with equal amounts of crabmeat. Drizzle reserved vinaigrette over the crabmeat and sprinkle with ground sumac. Serve immediately.

SOFT-SHELL CRABS WITH GARLIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• To make the vinaigrette, in a mixing bowl, whisk together the salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar. Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in the corn oil and then the olive oil. Stir in the garlic and herbs. Set aside.
• Coat the crabs lightly with the flour. Season on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat the corn oil in large nonstick skillet over high heat until the oil smokes. Add the crabs top side down and sauté for 1 1/2 minutes. Turn the crabs over, lower the heat to medium and sauté until browned on the bottom and cooked through, about 3 1/2 minutes.
• Spoon a pool of the vinaigrette into the center of 4 plates. Pat the crabs dry and place in the vinaigrette. Serve immediately.

SOFTSHELL CRAB SANDWICH WITH TOASTED PAPRIKA AIOLI

Steps:

• Place the mayonnaise, garlic, toasted paprika, cayenne and lemon juice in a blender and blend until smooth. Preheat grill. Brush the crabs with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Grill. Place 1 crab on each roll, spread with aioli and top with watercress.