Soft-Shell Crab With Lemon Herb Butter And Spring Vegetable Ragout

Serves: 3

Magnus Pfeffer

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

50

Spice

50

Sweetness

48

Sourness

39

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.5

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 cup

Milk

1 cup

Buttermilk

1

Salt

2 tbsps

Water

30 g

Butter

2 tbsps

Vegetable Oil

4 tsps

Lemon Juice

1 medium

Shallot (minced)

1 clove

Garlic (minced)

Directions:

1

Clean the crabs and remove the air sacs by lifting the bib on both sides

2

In a stainless bowl, add the milk and buttermilk and place the crabs in it to coat

3

In a bowl, whisk together the flour and salt and pepper, to taste

4

In a non-corrosive pan over high heat, add 2 tablespoons of water

5

Bring to a boil and gradually whisk in the butter, lowering the heat and whisking constantly until all is incorporated

6

Keep warm

7

Bring 4 saucepans of salted water to a boil

8

Blanche the haricots in one, the favas in another, the peas in a third and asparagus in a fourth

9

When just cooked, strain the vegetables and add each into separate ice water baths

10

Strain and reserve the haricots, peas and peel the favas, keeping cool

11

When favas are cooled, peel outer skin and reserve

12

Cut the asparagus on the bias

13

In a saute pan, add 1 ounce of the butter sauce and over medium heat, add the shallots

14

Sweat until transparent and add the garlic and cook 1 minute more

15

Saute the scallions (or pearl onions) and radishes until warmed through

16

They should still be crisp

17

Add the blanched favas, haricots verts, peas and roasted scallions or pearl onions and cook a few more minutes

18

Check salt and pepper and add savory

19

Keep warm

20

Preheat and oven to 375 degrees F

21

Remove the soft-shell crabs from the milk mixture and shake off excess

22

Dip into seasoned flour and shake off any excess

23

In a saute pan over medium heat, add the vegetable oil and when hot, add the soft-shells, top down

24

Saute about 2 minutes until brown and crisp and turn

25

Place in an oven for 2 to 3 minutes until cooked through

26

Remove from pan and wipe out, keeping crabs warm

27

Deglaze with the lemon juice, add the butter sauce, tarragon and chervil; do not boil

28

On 4 warm plates, place about 1/2-cup of the vegetable mixture and 1 soft-shell crab, surround with the butter herb sauce