Best Soft Shell Crabs In Surrey Bacon Dressing Recipes

SOFT-SHELL CRABS IN SURREY BACON DRESSING

Steps:

• Place diced bacon in a large, heavy skillet and cook over medium-low heat until all the fat is rendered and bacon bits are very crisp, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon, drain on a paper towel and reserve.
• Add diced red onion to skillet and cook over medium heat until very soft, about 5 to 7 minutes. Sprinkle sugar evenly over onions and cook over low heat, without stirring, until the sugar caramelizes, about 10 to 15 minutes. Cool completely, then fold into mayonnaise.
• Put a lettuce leaf on each of 4 serving plates. Put 2 tomato slices to one side on each plate. Spoon chilled dressing over lettuce.
• Pour clarified butter or oil into a large heavy skillet and heat over a medium flame. Dredge 4 soft-shell crabs in seasoned flour, shaking off excess, and place in skillet. Cook 2 to 3 minutes per side (jumbos will take longer), until crisp. Hold in a warm place while cooking remaining crabs. Transfer to prepared plates and sprinkle with reserved bacon bits. Serve at once.

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.

SOFT-SHELL CRAB BLTS

Steps:

• Stir together the mayonnaise, mustard, horseradish, lemon juice, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat, turning, until browned and crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and break the slices in half.
• Whisk the flour and 1 tablespoon Old Bay in a shallow bowl. Season the crabs with salt and pepper, then dip the crabs in the seasoned flour to coat on both sides.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until foamy. Immediately add the crabs and cook, turning, until browned and cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with more Old Bay.
• Assemble the sandwiches: Spread some of the mayonnaise mixture on 4 slices of toast. Top each with lettuce, tomato, some bacon and a crab. Spread the remaining mayonnaise mixture on the 4 other slices of toast and place on top of the sandwiches. Gently press down on each sandwich and cut in half. Serve with pickles.

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.

SUPER SOFT-SHELL CRABS, BAYOU BACON WRAPPED OYSTERS, LOUISIANA CHARBROILED OYSTERS, GRILLED GULF SHRIMP SKEWERS

Steps:

• In a deep-fryer or heavy-bottomed pot, heat the oil to 350 degrees F.
• Mix the flour and Cajun seasoning and in a flat pan.
• Mix egg, hot sauce, mustard and beer in a bowl. Put the crabs in the beer mixture and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Remove the crabs from the beer mixture, 1 at a time, and dust thoroughly in the flour mixture.
• Put the crabs, with legs down, in hot the oil and fry until golden brown.
• Melt the butter in saucepan and add the Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and parsley. Put each crab, on its side with the legs up, on a serving platter and drizzle the sauce over the top. Serve immediately.
• Remove the gills from the crabs (cut in half if using large crabs).
• In a deep-fryer or heavy-bottomed pot, heat the oil to 350 degrees F.
• Put 2 cups of the flour in a shallow pan. Add the oysters and turn to coat. Mix the egg, beer, hot sauce, mustard and seasoning in a bowl. Dip the oysters in the beer wash. Lightly flour again in the remaining 2 cups flour in a second shallow pan. Wrap the oysters in bacon and thread onto skewers.
• Fry the oysters, 1 at a time, in the oil until they float to the top. Remove them from the oil to a serving platter and serve immediately.
• Preheat a grill to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the minced shallots, vinegar and black pepper in a squeeze bottle.
• Put the oysters, on half shell, on the grill. Squirt each oyster with 1 tablespoon of mignonette sauce.
• When the oysters start to bubble, add a pinch of Parmesan and 1 teaspoon of olive oil.
• Grill until the cheese starts to brown on the edges. Remove the oysters from the grill to a serving platter and serve immediately.
• Skewer the shrimp, bell peppers and onions in alternating colors. Melt the butter, hot sauce and honey together in a saucepan over low heat. Bring the mixture to a simmering boil and reduce the sauce, stirring constantly, until creamy. Preheat a grill to 350 degrees F. Grill the shrimp until lightly browned. Remove the skewers from the grill to a serving platter and drizzle the shrimp with the butter sauce. Serve immediately.

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.