Soft Shell Crabs With Black Bean Sauce Food

SOFT-SHELL CRABS WITH CORN AND BLACK-BEAN SALSA

Steps:

• Shuck fresh corn, and steam for about 3 minutes. If using frozen corn, cook 1 minute in 1 tablespoon water.
• Rinse the crabs. Drain and dry.
• Beat egg whites until slightly foamy; dip crabs in egg whites and then in the flour to coat lightly. Set aside on a piece of wax paper.
• Drain corn, cool and scrape off kernels into a serving bowl.
• Wash, trim, seed and chop half the jalapeno pepper and all the red pepper; peel and dice the mangoes, and add to the bowl with the corn.
• Drain the beans, rinse thoroughly and drain again; add to bowl.
• Heat the oil in a nonstick skillet large enough to hold the crabs. Saute them on both sides until they are brown -- 4 or 5 minutes.
• Add the vinegar and lime juice to the corn mixture; season with salt and pepper, and serve with crabs on the side.

SOFT-SHELL CRABS WITH GINGER AND BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Trim off the outer thin feeler claws of the crabs. Cut the crabs in half crosswise through the center.
• Put 1/2 cup of the cornstarch in a dish and dip the cut part of each crab half in it. Shake off excess.
• Combine ginger, shredded lemon rind and red pepper. Set aside.
• Combine garlic, black beans and wine and set aside. Blend broth with minced lemon peel, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar and salt. Set aside.
• Heat fat for deep frying and when it is almost but not smoking, add half of the crab halves. Cook about three and one-half to five minutes or until red and crisp. Transfer to a sieve and drain. Cook the remaining crab halves. Drain.
• Heat remaining one-quarter cup oil in clean skillet or wok. When hot add ginger mixture and cook about 10 minutes. Add black bean mixture and cook, stirring, about 20 seconds. Add broth mixture and bring to a boil.
• Blend remaining cornstarch with water and stir it in. When thickened pour sauce over crabs. Garnish with coriander sprigs and serve.

BLACK BEAN AND GINGER DUNGENESS CRAB

Steps:

• In a large wok, bring peanut oil to high temperature. Dust the crab pieces with cornstarch and a little salt. Shallow fry the crab for only 1 to 2 minutes until the crab shells turn red. Drain on paper towels. Do the same with the 2 shells. Reserve oil and wipe wok clean. Add 2 tablespoons oil back to the wok on high heat. Stir-fry the beans, ginger, garlic and scallions for 1 minute until soft. Add back the crab and deglaze with shaoxing and add soy and stock. Check for seasoning and bring to a boil. Thicken with the slurry and cook 30 more seconds. Serve immediately with the cooked shells.
• PLATING On a large oval, place the 2 shells down near both ends. Fill with hot rice. Mound the crab between the shells. Enjoy with your fingers. Can also serve with lemon finger bowls.
• Wine suggestion: Marsanne, Bois du Renard, Languedoc 1998

SOFT-SHELL CRABS WITH BLACK-BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the milk and Tabasco in a bowl. Set aside. Mix the flour, salt and pepper in a shallow pan. Dip the crabs in the milk and dredge in flour mixture. Heat the oil in a heavy-bottom skillet over medium-high heat. Place the crabs in the pan and cook for 3 minutes. Turn and cook until tender, about 2 more minutes. Drain on paper towels.
• Drain the fat from the pan. Return the skillet to the stove. Pour in the white wine, black-bean sauce, hoisin sauce, chili paste and ginger. Turn the heat up to medium-high and simmer until the sauce thickens, about 3 to 5 minutes. Pour sauce over crabs. Sprinkle scallions on top. Serve immediately.

STIR-FRIED CRABS WITH BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Pat the crabs dry with paper towels and set aside.
• Chop the black beans and combine with the rice wine, garlic, ginger and scallions. Set aside.
• In a separate bowl, combine the hot pepper flakes, soy sauce, sugar and chicken stock. Set aside.
• Heat the peanut or vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet and add the crabs. Stir fry for about three minutes over medium heat. Add the black-bean mixture and continue stir-frying for about one minute.
• Add the soy-sauce mixture, stir and bring to boil. Cover the pan and cook for two minutes. Then add the cornstarch mixture and stir until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy. Correct seasoning (you may wish to add more soy sauce or pepper) and add the sesame oil. Remove from heat and place on heated plates. Sprinkle with coriander and serve.

SOFT-SHELL CRABS WITH LIME SAUCE

Steps:

• Season the flour with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Coat the crabs with flour and shake off excess. Heat butter and oil in a large skillet. When hot, add the crabs, shell side down first and saute for about 3 to 4 minutes a side (stand back a bit from skillet as crab will pop and splatter as you saute them.)
• Remove the crabs and keep them warm. Add lime zest, juice and water to the pan. Deglaze the pan by scraping up all the browned particles with a wooden spoon and incorporating them into the lime juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Boil the juices down until syrupy. Set crabs on warmed dinner plates and pour pan juices over them. For fancier occasions, garnish the plate with lemon rounds and sprinkle toasted almonds over the crabs.

PAN-FRIED SOFT-SHELL CRABS

Steps:

• Whisk flour, salt, and pepper; place on a dinner plate. Dredge 2 soft-shell crabs in flour mixture, shaking off excess (make sure crabs are completely coated).
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium sauté pan over medium-high heat. The oil should be very hot but not smoking. Place flour-coated crabs, back side down, in sauté pan; reduce heat to medium if pan starts to smoke. Sauté crabs until golden and crisp, about 3 minutes (do not stand too close to pan; crabs tend to spatter during cooking). Turn crabs over, and cook 2 minutes more.
• Add 1 tablespoon butter and a large pinch of parsley to skillet. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over crabs. Keep warm in a low oven. Repeat process until all the crabs are cooked.

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.