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Soft Shell Crabs ~ A crustacean lesson

Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 4 Servings

Ingredients
  

  • Olive oil for frying
  • 4 fresh soft shell crabs
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp milk or water
  • 1 C Panko bread crumbs
  • 3/4 C corn starch may use flour also
  • 1 tbsp seafood seasoning
  • My tartar sauce:
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 small onion finely minced
  • 2 lg slices dill pickle finely minced
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika

Instructions
 

  • Heat enough olive oil to cover the bottom of a large skillet (4-5 tbsp).
  • Trim the face, tail and lungs off of the crabs.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk the egg and milk together. In another medium bowl, combine the flour, corn starch and seasoning.
  • Dip each crab in the egg mixture and then coat them with the Panko and cornstarch mixture. Repeat the egg dip and Panko cornstarch coating.
  • When the oil is good and hot, (sizzling when a pinch of flour is tested) place each crab in (not crowding the pan).
  • Cook until browned on on bottom and flip. Brown on the other side. The crab will be crispy on the outside and white (opaque) and tender on the inside.
  • Note: If necessary, add more oil to the pan to keep the crust from burning when working in batches. Adjust heat as needed.
  • For the tartar sauce:
  • Combine all ingredients and serve with hot soft shell crab

Notes

Recipe by: Connie Murray @happybellyfoodie via John LaFontaine from Afishionados