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Crunchy Soft-Shell Crabs

Crispy fried soft‑shell crabs served with a tangy cilantro‑serrano dipping sauce.

From NYT Cooking

crabseafoodfriedappetizeramerican
Illustration of Crunchy Soft-Shell Crabs
Illustration

Ingredients

  • 2 to 3 serrano chiles, halved lengthwise and very thinly sliced crosswise
  • 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
  • 8 soft-shell crabs, cleaned and patted dry
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 egg whites, large
  • 1 tbsp white pepper, freshly ground
  • vegetable oil, for frying
  • 1 shallot, very thinly sliced
  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tbsp lime juice, fresh
  • 3 tbsp beef stock, or low-sodium broth
  • 1 tbsp light brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp water
  • buttermilk

Steps

1Soak the crabs

  1. Soak 8 jumbo soft-shell crabs, cleaned and patted dry, in a bowl of buttermilk.

2Make the dipping sauce

  1. Add 3 tbsp soy sauce to a bowl.
  2. Add 3 tbsp beef stock (or low-sodium broth) to the bowl.
  3. Add 2 tbsp fresh lime juice to the bowl.
  4. Add 1 tbsp light brown sugar to the bowl.
  5. Add 1 tbsp water to the bowl.
  6. Whisk the mixture until combined.
  7. Add 1 large shallot, very thinly sliced, to the bowl.
  8. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  9. Stir in 1/3 cup chopped cilantro.
  10. Stir in 2 to 3 serrano chiles, halved lengthwise and very thinly sliced crosswise.

3Prepare the coating

  1. Whisk 2 large egg whites in a bowl until frothy.
  2. Add the crabs to the egg whites and turn to coat.
  3. Add 1 cup all-purpose flour to a separate bowl.
  4. Add 1 cup cornstarch to the bowl.
  5. Add 1 tbsp freshly ground white pepper to the bowl.
  6. Add 2 tsp salt to the bowl.
  7. Add 1 tsp cayenne pepper to the bowl.
  8. Whisk the dry ingredients together.

4Fry the crabs

  1. Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan until it reaches 375°F, with about 2 inches depth.
  2. Set a wire rack over a baking sheet.
  3. Dredge the crabs in the flour mixture, a few at a time, and carefully place them in the hot oil.
  4. Fry over high heat, turning once, until golden brown and crisp, about 3 minutes.
  5. Transfer the crabs to the wire rack to drain.

5Serve

  1. Transfer the crabs to a platter and serve with the dipping sauce.