Soft Shell Crab Po Boys Food

SOFT SHELL PO-BOY WITH "KIMCHI" SLAW

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix flour and chile. Whisk in soda water until a pancake batter consistency is achieved. Completely coat the crab in the batter. Lightly drop in 350 degree F oil and fry for 4 to 5 minutes until golden brown. Season with salt and drain on paper towels.
• In a non-reactive saucepan, heat the vinegar, chile, salt and sugar until just boiling. Add the cabbage, carrots and garlic and simmer for only 3 minutes. Pull off the stove and let cool. Transfer to a glass container with an air tight lid. Store in refrigerator overnight. Will keep for 3 to 4 weeks as long as you do not introduce bacteria to it, ie. your finger.
• Plating: Place a small mound of slaw on the bottom piece of bread. Top with 1 crab and top with a little more slaw. Cover with top piece of bread and slice in half.

SOFT SHELL CRAB PO BOYS

Steps:

• In one bowl, beat together the eggs and milk.
• In another bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder.
• Season the cleaned crabs with salt and a generous amount of pepper.
• Dip crabs thoroughly in the egg mixture, then in the flour mixture. Set aside.
• Pour vegetable oil into a fry pan to about 1" deep. Heat to very hot.
• Cook crabs until golden brown, turning once, about 4-5 minutes on each side. Drain on paper toweling.
• Cut the toasted French bread into four pieces. Dress the bread of each sandwich with mayonnaise, lettuce and a couple slices of tomatoes. Place the two crabs inside each sandwich and season with a dash or two of hot sauce.

SOFT-SHELL CRAB POOR-BOY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Split bread in half and remove some of the soft white crumb with your fingers. Toast bread lightly in oven, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Beat egg and milk together in a bowl; combine the cornmeal, flour, cayenne and a large pinch of salt on a plate. Put about 1/4-inch of oil in a deep skillet broad enough to accommodate crabs, and turn heat to medium. When oil is hot -- a pinch of flour will sizzle -- dip crabs in milk-egg mixture, then dredge in the cornmeal-flour mixture. Put in skillet; adjust heat so crabs bubble gently but not furiously in oil.
• When bottom is nicely browned, 3 to 5 minutes, turn crabs and brown other side; crabs will be quite firm when done.
• Serve on toasted bread, garnished as you like.

SOFT SHELL CRAB SANDWICHES WITH SPICY TARTAR SAUCE (PO BOY)

Steps:

• Make the Tartar Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, onion, pickle, capers with spicy tartar sauce chives, Old Bay, lemon juice, and hot pepper sauce. Set aside.
• To Cook the Crabs: In a wide, shallow bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, salt and pepper. Dredge the crabs to coat on both sides.
• Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high heat until shimmering hot. Add the butter to the skillet and swirl the pan to melt it. Add the crabs top side down and cook, shaking the pan once or twice, until crisp and browned, about 3 minutes. The crabs may pop and splatter, so be careful.
• Flip the crabs and cook until crisp and just cooked through (an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of the crab should read 145°F), about 3 minutes more. Transfer the crabs to a large paper-towel-lined plate.
• To Assemble the Sandwiches: Spread the tartar sauce on the 8 slices of toast. Top 4 of the toast slices, sauce side up, with a piece of lettuce and 1 or 2 slices of tomato. Put one crab on each sandwich, top with the remaining toast, sauce side down, and serve.