Cornmeal Crusted Soft Shelled Crabs With Cilantro Lime Tartar Sauce Food

CORNMEAL-CRUSTED SOFT-SHELLED CRABS WITH CILANTRO-LIME TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk together buttermilk, eggs, salt, and pepper and pour into a 3-quart shallow dish. Add crabs and soak, covered and chilled, 1 hour.
• Heat enough oil to measure 2 inches deep in a wide 4-quart heavy pot (about 4 inches deep) to 375°F.
• Whisk together flour and cornmeal and transfer to a large sealable plastic bag. Lift 1 crab out of buttermilk, letting excess drip off, and shake in bag to coat with flour. Knock off excess flour and transfer to a tray. Repeat with remaining crabs, arranging them in 1 layer as coated.
• Deep-fry crabs, 2 at a time, turning over halfway through frying (watch out for popping), until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Return oil to 375°F between batches. Drain crabs on paper towels and serve with tartar sauce.

CRAB AND CORNMEAL STEW

Steps:

• In a medium heavy skillet, heat the olive oil over low heat. Add the onions and bell peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, for 6 to 8 minutes, or until softened. Add the garlic, cumin, and paprika and cook for 2 minutes more, until the aroma is released. Add the tomatoes, pimentos, bay leaf, vinegar, Tabasco, sherry, clam juice and salt to the pan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes or until thickened and saucy. Add the crab meat and cook for another 6 minutes, then remove from the heat and taste for seasoning. Cover and set aside at the back of the stove while you cook the cornmeal. In a large heavy saucepan, combine the cornmeal, water, oil, and salt. Mix together well and place the pan over medium high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and cover the pan. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes over very low heat, removing the lid to thoroughly stir the mixture every 2 or 3 minutes. When the cornmeal has thickened, season it generously with pepper. Remove the bay leaf from the sauce and gently reheat it if necessary. Ladle the cornmeal into shallow heated bowls and top with a generous ladleful of the crab sauce. Or if desired, mix the two together thoroughly before serving.

CORN-CRUSTED SOFT-SHELL CRABS WITH BEAN-MANGO SALSA

Steps:

• Beat egg white slightly. Wash and dry crabs, dip into egg white and then into cornmeal.
• Drain and rinse beans under cold running water.
• Cut mangoes and pineapple into small chunks and place in mixing bowl large enough to hold all the ingredients but the crabs.
• Heat oil in a nonstick pan and saute crabs until they turn red and the crust turns golden brown on both sides; about 5 minutes, depending on size.
• Mince jalapeno, coarsely grate ginger, and add both to fruit.
• Stir in brown sugar, lime juice and beans.
• Wash, dry and chop cilantro and stir in.
• Arrange salsa on each of two dinner plates and top with crabs.

CORNMEAL-CRUSTED SOFT-SHELL CRABS

Steps:

• Combine cornmeal, salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl or plate.
• Whisk egg whites in a small bowl until just frothy. Dip crabs into egg whites to coat. Dredge them in the seasoned cornmeal, shake off excess, and set aside.
• Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; arrange 4 crabs on their bellies in the pan. Cook until golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer crabs to a plate and add 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil to pan. Return crabs to pan, on their backs, and cook until crisp, about 5 minutes more. Remove crabs from skillet and keep warm on a baking sheet in a 300 degrees oven. Repeat with the remaining olive oil and crabs.
• Divide arugula among four plates. Arrange 2 crabs over each plate of arugula, spoon confit over or around crabs, and serve.

HERBED CORNMEAL CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, combine the first six ingredients; set aside. , In a large bowl, combine the egg, bread crumbs, chives, parsley, thyme, mayonnaise, tartar sauce, mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and celery salt. Fold in crab. Shape into four patties; coat with cornmeal mixture., In a large skillet over medium heat, cook crab cakes in oil for 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown.

CRISPY SOFT SHELL CRABS

Steps:

• Soak the crabs in milk for 30 minutes. Mix the flour, salt, pepper, ginger, paprika and garlic powder in a bag; dredge crabs in the mixture.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute the crabs until golden-brown, 5 minutes per side.
• Spread buns with mayonnaise; top each with a crab. Dollop with coleslaw, if desired. Serve immediately.

FRIED SOFT SHELL CRABS

Steps:

• Beat egg and milk.
• Add salt.
• Dip crabs thoroughly in egg and milk mixture,.
• then in flour and baking powder which have been mixed.
• Have hot fat about 1/2" deep and cook until golden brown.
• Serve with tartar sauce.