Fried Cooter Soft Shell Turtle 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.

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.

FRIED COOTER (SOFT-SHELL TURTLE)

Steps:

• Combine turtle, vinegar, and 1 teaspoon salt; cover with water and simmer for 1 hour, or until tender. Drain and set aside.
• Combine flour, milk, egg yolks, olive oil, and 1/8 teaspoon salt; mix well.
• Beat egg whites until stiff; fold until batter.
• Dip turtle pieces into batter; fry until golden brown in deep oil heated to 375°F Drain well on paper towels.

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.

LINGUINE ALLE MOLECCHE (LINGUINE WITH SOFT SHELL CRAB SAUCE)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of boiling water with salt added, about 1/2 teaspoon salt, add Linguine. Remove when cooked to desired texture. Using medium heat add olive oil in a large sauce pan, smash the garlic and add to the pan. Cook until golden brown and remove, set aside.
• Clean crab and cut into 6 pieces. Add to the pan and saute' for 1 minute. Add the basil,parsley,hot pepper flakes, and tomato sauce, and cook for 4 minutes. Remove pan from heat.
• When pasta is cooked, drain and place it in the pan with the sauce. Saute' for 1 minute, serve very hot.
• If you wish, use 1 glass of dry white wine before adding the herbs, reduce it completely, then add the rest of the ingredients. Then eliminate the tomato sauce.