Soft-shell Crab
It's that time of year. Soft-shell crab season. Do you like them? Are you afraid of them? What's your favorite way to prepare them? Recipes welcome.
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13 Comments:
Soft-shell crabs = SUMMER!!!
lightly dredged in flour and old bay, salt, and a little white pepper, crisped up in pan of hot butter, on a toasted potato bun with a spicy mayo. Glass of sauvignon blanc. Or a can of PBR. My mind is blown to bits.
I will eat them any way you serve them though. Mark Bittman recently did them with pasta, and that sounded excellent. I had some the other day over some couscous, also excellent. And good Chinese restaurants have them, usually with a black bean or garlic sauce. Japanese joints tempura fry them. Ecstasy. Also rolled up in a sushi roll most often called a Spider Roll. OMG, I must have soft-shell crabs TONIGHT!!!!!!
simon at 6:49PM on 06/07/08
@simon: I had soft-shells on Mother's Day and they were fantastic. I haven't been out to a sushi joint for ages; I love Spider Rolls, too.
@anybody: Have you tried a fried soft-shell sandwich? In my search for soft-shell input, I found this post by Adam Kuban from last summer with a delectable photo of a sandwich he got "down the shore," in Cape May, New Jersey. I really want to try one.
He also mentioned Wildwood. Ah, the boardwalk. Those rides. Crazy times.
[smiling]
Susquehanna at 10:12AM on 06/08/08
mmm soft shelled crab sandwiches are my fav!
Like Simon said, lightly dredged in flour and old bay ( a MUST!!!) cooked in a pan of hot butter is the way to go. Although I prefer mine on white bread, with lettuce, sun ripened tomato and tartar sauce.
nomnomnom
hammondcheese at 5:43PM on 06/08/08
There is a chain of seafood restaurants in Texas (Pappadeaux) that serve soft shell crabs grilled, pan-sauteed or fried. I almost always order 1 grilled w/butter as dipping sauce and 1 fried crab with their dirty rice whenever I eat at Pappadeaux. I love the Japanase appetizer of fried soft shell crab with a ponzu dipping sauce -super yum! Another local Cajun restaurant serves them in po-boys as well as "beinvenille" (sp?) style with crawfish and shrimp in a cream sauce over the fried crab. Love love love soft-shell crab!
JenM Dallas at 11:37AM on 06/09/08
King Crab is HANDS DOWN my favourite food of all time.
I can't bring myself to eat softshell crab though!!?? Maybe it's because they resembe little insects and the shell is what is edible (and holds a lot of the flavour).
I feel like I'm missing out though--it sounds AMAZING!
Based on the comments; maybe I should suck it up and try it
--wish me luck!
hungrychristel at 12:16PM on 06/09/08
you should definitely try it.
simon at 2:17PM on 06/09/08
My girlfriend kept trying to get me to eat crab. I tried it, did not see the big deal. Then I got a deep fried soft shell crab. For those of you who haven't tried it, it's heaven. I could eat them every day.
noxturne at 1:37AM on 06/10/08
I've never had soft shell. I'd love to try it though because I love crab!! Dungeoness is my favorite so far!
smile at 2:32AM on 06/10/08
My BIL lives in Maryland and I am looking forward to his upcoming visit. He will bring me a dozen soft shells and a quart of shucked oysters. Good Eats headed my way!
Lightly dredged in seasoned flour and a pan of hot melted butter, a marriage made in heaven. ;-D
izatryt at 9:09AM on 06/10/08
I haven't tried softshells because I keep thinking there are "guts" in there. Are they removed before cooking? I love all other crab preparations and I'd like to add softshells to the list.
Josdean at 3:41PM on 06/10/08
Absolutely the "guts" are removed! Properly cleaned softshells are the one of the sweetest, cleanest seafoods you will eat. They are my absolute favorite.
BTW, @hungrychristel, I once told a visitor I was frying spiders, when asked what those things were in my cast-iron skillet. Never did get past that to have a decent friendship with him. Guess some people can't take a joke! ;-)
Editmom at 10:27AM on 06/11/08
Mmmmmm....here in Baltimore, Hons soft-shell crabs are considered a staple! Personally I like them on a sandwich. Fresh Wonder bread, the gushier the better. Mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato. Even if you don't like crab as a rule, give soft-shells a try!!
RichardCrystal at 12:12PM on 06/11/08
It was my first year at NYU grad school. the WTC was then only half built, classes were held at 100 Trinity Place, the back door opened onto the street where the American Stock Exchange was located. Every day at lunch time, there lines in front of Vincent Petrocino's open window where I ordered fried softshells in a soft loaf of Italian Bread, dripping with tartar sauce.
It was my first experience with the delish critters, and would have eaten two times what I did, but for my student sized budget. Through the years, I saw them on many menus, cooks were trying to invent new ways to prepare them, but no one ever bested those deep fried, battered beauties, crisp on the outside, and delish inside.
mymymichl at 1:28AM on 04/11/09