Cornmeal-Crusted Soft-Shelled Crabs With Cilantro-Lime Tartar Sauce

Serves: 2

Gideon Batz

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

51

Spice

41

Sweetness

49

Sourness

39

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.8

Difficulty

Ingredients:

2 large

Egg

1 tbsp

Kosher Salt

1 tsp

Black Pepper

1 cup

Mayonnaise

Directions:

1

Whisk together buttermilk, eggs, salt, and pepper and pour into a 3-quart shallow dish

2

Add crabs and soak, covered and chilled, for 30 minutes to 1 hour

3

Heat enough vegetable oil to measure 1-inch deep in a wide shallow skillet to very hot

4

Whisk together flour and cornmeal and transfer to a large sealable plastic bag

5

Lift 1 crab out of buttermilk, letting excess drip off, and shake in bag to coat with flour

6

Knock off excess flour and transfer to a tray

7

Repeat with remaining crabs, arranging them in 1 layer as coated

8

Shallow-fry the crabs, 4 at a time, turning over halfway through frying (watch out for popping or use a frying screen), until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes

9

Reheat oil to very hot between batches

10

Drain crabs on paper towels and serve with tartar sauce

11

Stir together all sauce ingredients

12

Refrigerate until ready to use