Soft Shell Crabs Provencal With Spaghetti Recipes

PASTA WITH SOFT SHELL CRABS

Steps:

• In a very deep skillet or broad saucepan, warm oil, garlic, and chile flakes over low heat; do not let garlic brown. When garlic is soft, at least 5 minutes, add crabs (keep heat low to medium low; liquid in pan should barely bubble) and cover. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it.
• Let the crabs cook until they give up all their liquid and become firm, about 15 minutes. When crabs are almost done, begin cooking pasta. When crabs are done, use tongs to remove them and hold them while cutting up with scissors. Return to pan.
• Drain pasta when it is barely tender, a little short of how you'd want to eat it, reserving some cooking water. Add pasta to crabs and toss together over medium heat with pan juices and black pepper, adding some cooking water and a little more oil if necessary. (The amount of each will depend on how much more cooking the pasta needs, and how much liquid the crabs exuded.) Add parsley, taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. When pasta is perfectly cooked, serve.

SOFT-SHELL CRABS PROVENCAL WITH SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Bring water in pot to boil.
• Chop whole onion.
• Heat nonstick pan until it is very hot; reduce heat to medium high, and add oil. Saute onion until it begins to soften.
• Mince garlic, and add to pan.
• Wash, trim and seed whole pepper, and chop. Add to pan after onion has begun to soften.
• Wash, trim and chop zucchini, and add. Cook until soft. Season with salt and pepper.
• Cook spaghetti in boiling water according to package directions.
• Wash crabs, and lightly coat with flour.
• Heat butter in small nonstick pan over medium heat, and brown crabs on both sides, about 3 minutes a side.
• Drain pasta, and arrange on plates. Toss with vegetables, and top with crabs.

SOFT-SHELL CRAB BASKET

Steps:

• Start by cleaning the soft-shell crabs, removing the gills and the skirt flap. Refrigerate until ready to cook. On the stove, over medium heat slowly bring the vegetable oil to 325 degrees. Then lower the heat to hold the temperature. While the oil is heating prepare the buttermilk by mixing the grated lemon zest and season with salt and pepper. Combine Flour with Old Bay Seasoning. The correct way to batter using flour is a method known as dry-wet-dry, so start by coating the crabs with the flour seasoned with Old Bay then dredging them into the buttermilk and then back into the flour. Carefully using tongs drop the crabs into the oil and fry until crisp, when golden brown, remove from oil and drain on a paper towel. Serve the crabs in a basket with french-fries, coleslaw, grilled corn, tartar sauce, and lemon. Another delicious serving suggestion is a simple soft-shell sandwich. To make the sandwich place the fried crab in between 2 slices of lightly toasted white bread with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise;

SOFT-SHELL CRABS WITH GRENOBOIS

Steps:

• With a knife, cut away the skin of the lemon, removing every trace of pith and exposing the fruit. Cut between the membranes, releasing the lemon segments. Cut the segments into small dice. You will need 1 tablespoon.
• To clean the soft-shell crabs, cut off the gills (a cotton-like membrane under each side of the head) by lifting the sides of the upper shell and snipping with scissors. Cut off the turned under tail as well as the head directly behind the eyes. Scrape out the inside through the opening at the head with a knife, and rinse the opening under cold water. Dry the crabs with a paper towels and refrigerate until needed.
• Dredge each crab in flour, shaking off any excess. In a large pan over medium heat, warm 3 tablespoons of butter. Add the crabs bottom side up and cook for 3 minutes on each side. Season with salt and pepper. Remove, keep warm, and set aside.
• Add the remaining butter to same pan, and heat until golden brown. Add the tomato confit, capers, lemon, parsley, shallots, and olives and cook until mixture is warmed through.
• To serve: Place two crabs on center of plate. Add the vegetables on top of crabs and around the plate.

SOFT SHELL CRAB

Steps:

• Combine chili paste, white vinegar, rice vinegar, garlic cloves, kosher salt, sugar, and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 30 minutes and skim if needed. Add cornstarch and bring back to a boil to thicken. Set aside and let cool.
• Heat oil to 360 degrees F. in a deep pot.
• Dredge crab in buttermilk and dip in tempura flour. Fry in oil for 2 minutes until crisp. Set aside. Place asparagus spear in oil for one minute. Set aside.
• Place 2 ounces of the cooled chili paste sauce in a shallow bowl along with a mound of cooked rice noodles. Arrange carrot and sprigs of basil, cilantro, and mint next to the noodles. Place lime wedge along side the noodles. Put fried crab on top of noodles with asparagus spear.

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.

SOFT-SHELL CRABS ON PAPAYA-MANGO SALSA

Steps:

• Wash and dry the crabs, and sprinkle on both sides with flour.
• Heat oil in nonstick pan large enough to hold the crabs.
• Place crabs top side down in hot oil and cook over medium-high heat until they begin to turn red; turn and brown on other side. The total cooking time is about 6 to 8 minutes, depending on the size of the crabs.
• Meanwhile, peel and seed the papaya. Peel the mangoes. Cut fruits into bite-size pieces and place in a bowl.
• Wash, trim and seed the jalapeno; mince and add to fruit.
• Add lime juice to fruit.
• Wash, dry and chop cilantro to make 1 tablespoon and stir in.
• Arrange salsa on each of two dinner plates and place crabs on top of salsa.

PAN-FRIED SOFT-SHELL CRABS

Steps:

• Combine flour and seafood seasoning in a resealable zip-top bag. Seal and shake to mix. Combine egg and milk in a bowl. Dredge crabs in egg mixture, then add to seasoned flour and shake to coat. Shake off excess when removing from bag.
• Heat olive oil in a large saute pan or skillet over medium heat. Add crabs in a single layer and cook for 3 minutes; flip and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes more. Remove to a serving dish.
• Mix mayonnaise, chives, pickle juice, mustard, seafood seasoning, lemon juice, salt, and pepper together for remoulade. Serve with crabs.

SOFT-SHELL CRABS ''NAMBAN''

Steps:

• Make the marinade. Combine sake, ponzu, soy sauce, ginger, chili and garlic.
• Dry the crabs. Heat the oils to 180 degrees in a large skillet or wok. Dredge the crabs with a minimum amount of flour. Saute in the oil for two to three minutes on each side.
• Put the crabs and red onion in the marinade and let them sit for one to two hours. To serve, remove the crabs from the marinade, quarter them and if you like, place the flying fish roe on top to garnish.

SOFT-SHELL CRABS WITH PINEAPPLE-MANGO SALSA

Steps:

• Wash crabs and drain.
• Beat egg whites until slightly foamy; dip crabs in egg whites, then in flour. Place on piece of wax paper.
• Dice pineapple and mango and place in serving bowl. Chop onion fine; mince jalapeno and add to bowl.
• If using a stove-top grill, prepare and heat. Grill crabs about 3 minutes on each side over medium-high heat.
• Squeeze lime juice into the pineapple-mango mixture.
• Wash, dry and chop cilantro and add to bowl; season with pepper. Serve crabs with salsa on the side.

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.

SOFT-SHELL CRABS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with paper towels; set aside. Combine flour, salt, and pepper in a large shallow dish. Dredge crabs in seasoned flour, tapping off excess; set aside.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter and oil to skillet. When butter has melted, add crabs and cook until deep golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer crabs to a prepared baking sheet to drain. Sprinkle with salt. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

SOFT-SHELLED CRABS MEUNIèRE

Steps:

• Combine milk, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish and soak crabs 5 minutes. Lift 1 crab out of milk, letting excess drip off, and dredge in flour. Knock off excess flour and transfer to a tray. Repeat with remaining crabs, arranging them in 1 layer as coated.
• Heat clarified butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté crabs, upside down, 2 minutes. Turn over and sauté until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes more.
• Transfer crabs to a serving dish. Add butter pieces to skillet and cook until golden brown with a nutty aroma. Add lemon juice and parsley (mixture will bubble up) and remove from heat.
• Season sauce with salt and pepper and drizzle over crabs.