soft shell crab

I just love soft shell crab.....what are some of your recipes and cooking techniques.  My fish market has them in and I need some ideas.  I  get them in restaurants all the time but never have made them.

I just toss them in a very light egg batter, throw them in a little seasoned flour and fry them in peanut oil. Probably about 5 min. in the pan. My favorite way to eat them is just put a jumbo or a whale between two slices of white bread, and add a little tartar and hot sauce. Good eatin'! Hey, blue heaven....I'm going to Key West via convertible from Miami on the 27th. I plan to eat breakfast at your namesake the following morning and will dedicate the shrimp and grits to you!

Check out Thai crab curry recipes, can use about any type crab or just meat, or about any seafood, but truly a classic style curry.

I dust them in flour and fry them in butter.  I love soft shell crabs!

The best way to me is the simplest.

Clean them, dredge them in AP flour and pan fry them in some peanut oil until the are nice and golden brown. Be careful they will splatter ALLOT!

Make a sandwich, or drizzle with a little lemon and you are set.

If you want a more fancy sauce, drain the excess oil out of the pan, add some lemon juice to deglaze, swirl in a couple pats of butter, throw in a few capers, a bit of salt and pepper....pour over the crispy crabs and enjoy!

Pancho


I just toss them in a very light egg batter, throw them in a little seasoned flour and fry them in peanut oil. Probably about 5 min. in the pan. My favorite way to eat them is just put a jumbo or a whale between two slices of white bread, and add a little tartar and hot sauce. Good eatin'! Hey, blue heaven....I'm going to Key West via convertible from Miami on the 27th. I plan to eat breakfast at your namesake the following morning and will dedicate the shrimp and grits to you!

Thanks Pancho.  Make sure to take pictures and share on trip reports.  Try the lobster benedict, it is my guilty pleasure - my husband enjoys the blueberry pancakes.  Be on the look out for rogue roosters. 

Make SURE That They are clean,Eyes and Dead Mans Fingers removed and that they are dry when you fry or else they will exlpode on you.Fry them up and serve on white bread.

blue heaven


I just love soft shell crab.....what are some of your recipes and cooking techniques.  My fish market has them in and I need some ideas.  I  get them in restaurants all the time but never have made them.

Hey Blue-----picked up two Whales from Wegmans last weekend along with a loaf of Ciabatta and made up two fabuloso SSC BLT's----double hickory smoked thick cut bacon---ripe on vine toms and Boston Lettuce with a roasted red pepper aoli made a little slice of heaven for me and G!!!!!!!
 
Russ

jellybear


Make SURE That They are clean,Eyes and Dead Mans Fingers removed and that they are dry when you fry or else they will exlpode on you.Fry them up and serve on white bread.

Ah, the wonderful softshell crab sandwiches served on toast along the shore in Connecticut are whole, including innards and eyes.

Old Bay makes seasoned Breadcrumbs, eggwash, Old Bay Breadcrumbs, Fry or broil them, they really are great!

I too, love softshells! I simply, dust in flour, salt and white pepper and saute quickly in 1/2 butter and 1/2 olive oil. Serve with Lottsa lemon and good tarter sauce.

Michael Hoffman

jellybear


Make SURE That They are clean,Eyes and Dead Mans Fingers removed and that they are dry when you fry or else they will exlpode on you.Fry them up and serve on white bread.

Ah, the wonderful softshell crab sandwiches served on toast along the shore in Connecticut are whole, including innards and eyes.

Right on, Michael! 

So Michael when is the last time you were in CT and enjoyed this dish and where ?

exsquidao


So Michael when is the last time you were in CT and enjoyed this dish and where ?

I believe its been ten years, and I think it was at Chicks.

jellybear


Make SURE That They are clean,Eyes and Dead Mans Fingers removed and that they are dry when you fry or else they will exlpode on you.Fry them up and serve on white bread.

eeeek. that doe not sound like fun! but Soft Shell Crabs are my favorite

You do have to clean them first right?

I have a Friend who got reall sick from eating Soft shells that were not clean.If you like the taste of the mustard and guts and eyes by all means leave them on them but I will clean mine everytime.

My brother cooked some this weekend. He simply dusted them in a flour/salt/pepper mixture and fried them. They were wonderful.

@mikeam, that's way I do mine. As described above. There're just screaming for fresh squeezed lemon!
@jellybear, I love the "mustard"!

Mikeam, I vote your way! Very crispy but  not burned!