Best Sauteed Soft Shelled Crabs With Ginger Carrot Broth And Baby Bok Choy Recipes

SAUTEED SOFT-SHELL CRABS WITH GARLIC AND BUTTER

Steps:

• Season crabs with salt and pepper and dredge in the flour, shaking off excess. Set aside.
• In a large skillet over medium high heat, add the oil and saute the crabs until soft, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove the crabs and set aside. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Then add the capers and white wine. Cook until wine has reduced to about 1/2. Swirl in the butter and the chopped chives. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer crabs to a plate, spoon sauce over the crabs and garnish with Essence.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

PAN-FRIED SOFT-SHELL CRABS

Steps:

• Whisk flour, salt, and pepper; place on a dinner plate. Dredge 2 soft-shell crabs in flour mixture, shaking off excess (make sure crabs are completely coated).
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium sauté pan over medium-high heat. The oil should be very hot but not smoking. Place flour-coated crabs, back side down, in sauté pan; reduce heat to medium if pan starts to smoke. Sauté crabs until golden and crisp, about 3 minutes (do not stand too close to pan; crabs tend to spatter during cooking). Turn crabs over, and cook 2 minutes more.
• Add 1 tablespoon butter and a large pinch of parsley to skillet. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over crabs. Keep warm in a low oven. Repeat process until all the crabs are cooked.

SAUTEED SOFT SHELL CRABS (SALLYE)

Steps:

• IMPORTANT NOTES: It is best to purchase these fresh from the boat if possible, or at least a good quality seafood market during season. These crabs are delicate and quickly lose their freshness. They should be cooked within 24 hours of purchase. The Gulf Coast season is from April through October. DO NOT BUY if they are wrapped in cellophane; that means they have been previously frozen and will not be fresh.
• HOW TO PREPARE: (DON'T SKIMP ON THIS STEP) With kitchen shears, cut straight across the front of the crab, cutting the mouth and eyes off. Lift up the side edges of the shell and find the gills (they are the little finger-looking fleshy membranes). Push them to the side away from the rest of the crab. Cut them off with the shears. Turn the crab over and cut off the backside (called the tail or apron) with the shears. Rinse thoroughly under cool running water to remove all sand and grit. Pay particular attention to where the gills were, sand can be imbedded there. If necessary, massage gently with hands to loosen and remove the sand.
• AHH, NOW FOR THE COOKING: Heat a heavy skillet (I use my cast iron skillet or sometimes my big wok) to medium heat. Add teriyaki sauce https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/sauce-spread/sauce-spread-dip/homemade-teriyaki-sauce.html (or you can use store bought if you prefer), and the extra mirin if you want it sweeter. When sauce begins to simmer, turn heat to low and place crabs with the shell side down in the sauce. Simmer for five minutes, then flip crab over and simmer in sauce five more minutes.
• Remove from sauce and place on serving platter with wedges of lemon. Serve with your choice of sides.

SAUTEED SOFT-SHELL CRABS WITH CAPER BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• To prepare the soft-shell crabs: 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. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high flame. 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 and cover to keep warm.
• Lower the heat to medium and add the butter to the pan. Let the butter melt and cook until it just begins to brown. Add the capers and wine; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes until almost dry. Add the lemon juice and parsley; season with salt and pepper. Pour the caper brown butter sauce over the crabs and serve with lemon wedges.