Soft Shelled Crab Sandwiches Recipes

Steps:

• Heat about 3 inches of oil in a saucepan to about 400 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, mix eggs, milk and beer until creamy. Put flour in a separate bowl. Dip soft shell crabs into wet batter and then dip into flour. Drop battered crab into hot oil. Fry crab for 3 minutes on each side or until golden. Serve on buns, with tartar sauce, tomato and lettuce.
• Mix mayonnaise, horseradish, pickles, salt and pepper together in a small bowl. Add lemon juice. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Yield: about 3 cups

Steps:

• Have the fishmonger clean crabs, each about 2 to 3 ounces, or clean them*. In a dish combine vegetable oil, garlic cloves, Old Bay seasoning (available at fish markets), and salt and pepper to taste. Add the crabs, patted dry, turn them to coat them with the mixture, and let them marinate, covered and chilled, for at least 2 hours.
• Have ready English muffins, split in half and flattened with a rolling pin. In a small saucepan combine unsalted butter, lemon juice and parsley leaves, shallot, and salt and pepper to taste, heat the mixture over moderately low heat, stirring, until the butter is just melted, and reserve it.
• Drain the soft-shelled crabs, put in a grill basket or arrange them over glowing coals for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, or until they turn red. Grill the English muffins, turning them once, until they are crisp and browned lightly, brush the split sides with the reserved herb butter, and sandwich 1 grilled crab between 2 muffin halves.
• To clean soft-shelled crabs:
• Rinse live soft-shelled crabs under running cold water. With scissors cut off the heads about 1/4 inch behind the eyes and cut off the white gills. Peel back the aprons, cut them off, and rinse the crabs again.

Steps:

• Make the slaw: Trim and peel the daikon, then shred on the large holes of a box grater. Transfer to a colander and squeeze dry. Whisk the lime juice and honey in a medium bowl. Add the cilantro and daikon; season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Refrigerate the slaw until ready to serve.
• Make the aioli: Combine the mayonnaise, sambal oelek and tomato paste in a small bowl. Grate in the garlic, season with salt and pepper and stir to combine.
• Clean the crabs (if live): Cut off the front of each crab just behind the eyes and mouth using kitchen shears; remove any yellow matter from the inside with your fingers, if desired.
• Grab one of the pointy ends of the top shell and peel it back to reveal the gills; cut out the gills and discard. Repeat on the other side.
• Flip the crab over and pull back the small flap known as the apron. Use your fingers to pull it off.
• Cook the crabs: Put the flour in a shallow dish and season with salt and pepper. Dredge the crabs in the seasoned flour, turning to coat both sides; shake off the excess flour and set aside. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat and swirl the pan until the foaming stops. Add the crabs to the pan and cook until they start to turn an orange-red color, about 3 minutes per side. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and season immediately with salt.
• Build your sandwich: Set your rolls cut-side down in the same pan and cook until golden. Slather the roll tops with some of the chile aioli. Sandwich a hot crab and a scoop of slaw on each roll.

Steps:

• Season the crabs with salt and pepper, and sprinkle both sides with the chili powder. Preheat a pan with the oil until nearly smoking. Add the crabs, belly-side down. Cook for 5 minutes before turning. Lower the heat and cook for another 5 minutes on the second side. Remove from the pan and pat dry with paper towels to remove any excess oil.
• Build your sandwich with lettuce, tomato, sprouts, and avocado, topped off with the crab and chili mayonnaise.