Grilled Soft Shell Crabs Recipes

SOFT-SHELL CRABS ON THE GRILL

Steps:

• Rinse crabs under cold running water; brush them with a small brush if necessary to remove any dirt from their shells. Twist off and discard apron. Fold back the pointed sides of the top shell to expose gills; remove gills on both sides. Using kitchen scissors, cut across the front of the crab about 1/4-inch behind the eyes and mouth; squeeze out the small sac located directly behind the mouth.
• Preheat a grill with the lid down or a grill pan over medium-high heat.
• Brush crabs with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place crabs on grill and cover. Cook, turning crabs every couple minutes and basting them with remaining olive oil, until they turn orange and are cooked through, 7 to 9 minutes. Remove from grill and serve immediately.

GRILLED SOFT-SHELL CRABS

Steps:

• Clean crabs by removing gills and cutting off the eyes and mouth.
• Place crabs on pan or aluminum foil. Place on grill over a low fire. Baste the crabs with the Lemon Butter Sauce. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes on each side. Continue to baste during cooking. Before serving, top each crab with a slice of tomato and a small amount of mozzarella cheese. Allow cheese to melt. Remove from grill. Serve immediately.
• Add lemon juice and other seasonings. Seasonings may be adjusted for personal taste. Allow to simmer for about 20 minutes.

BBQ SOFT-SHELL CRABS WITH GRILLED VIDALIA ONIONS

Steps:

• Melt margarine over low-medium heat and add olive oil, salt, pepper, hot sauce, lemon juice, and bacon. Simmer for 2 minutes. Allow to cool.
• Place the cleaned crabs on plate. Liberally coat the crabs with the sauce, making sure to lift the sides of the shell to coat the meat inside. Save remaining sauce for basting. Cover the crabs and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
• Heat grill to medium-low.
• Place crabs on grill topside down. Baste with remaining sauce while they cook. Cook crabs about 3 to 4 minutes on each side. The crab will crisp on the outside and the meat inside will turn white.
• Remove from grill and serve topped with Grilled Vidalia Onions.
• Heat griddle or nonstick pan over medium-high heat.
• Peel onions and cut into thin rings. Toss rings with seasoning and olive oil.
• Cook until onions turn clear and start to caramelize. Serve over grilled crab.

GRILLED OR SAUTEED SOFT SHELL CRAB BLT

Steps:

• If grilling, brush the crabs lightly with blended olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. If sauteing, season the crabs with salt and pepper, and dredge lightly in flour. Cook the crabs for about 3 minutes per side over medium heat. Set aside and keep warm. Place the toasted brioche in the center of a plate and cover it generously with Basil Mayonnaise. Layer the arugula leaves, tomato slices, and warm pancetta, in that order, on top of the brioche. Top with the warm crabs and squeeze more Basil Mayonnaise over the plate and the crabs. Garnish with rosemary, and serve with shoestring potatoes or chips.
• Place the egg yolks, water, and basil in the bowl of a food processor. Turn on the processor and slowly add the oil through the feeding tube. Add salt and pepper, to taste. If the mayonnaise is too thick, add a little water. Transfer Basil Mayonnaise to a squeeze bottle and refrigerate.

GRILLED SOFT SHELL CRAB SANDWICH WITH RED SLAW AND YELLOW TOMATOES

Steps:

• For the slaw: Whisk together the ketchup, red wine vinegar, celery salt, kosher salt, black pepper and cayenne in a large bowl. Add the cabbage and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours before serving. Taste for seasoning just before serving.
• For the crabs: Heat a charcoal or gas grill to high heat direct grilling. Brush both sides of the crabs with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until the crabs are just firm to the touch, 2 to 4 minutes per side, depending on the size.
• For assembly: Place 1 large or 2 small crabs on the grilled buns, top with a large spoonful of coleslaw and 2 slices of tomatoes. Serve immediately.

GRILLED SOFT-SHELL CRABS RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Rinse the crabs in running cool water and reserve. Heat a grill to medium-hot-you should be able to hold your hand about an inch over the cooking grate for 3 to 4 seconds before pulling it away from the heat.
• Pat the crabs dry with paper towels. Liberally brush the crabs all over with melted butter or oil and set them on the hot grill.
• Cover the grill and cook until the crabs are lightly browned on the cooking grate side, about 4 to 5 minutes.
• Flip the crabs over, brush with more butter, and cook until they are browned on the second side and cooked through, or about 10 minutes in total. Use tongs to remove the crabs from the grill.
• Enjoy.

BROILED OR GRILLED SOFTSHELL CRABS

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler, adjusting the rack so that it is just beneath the heat source; put a large nonstick roasting pan or skillet in there to heat up for about 10 minutes. Or start a grill, adjusting the rack so that it is about 4 inches from the coals.
• To broil, place the crabs, top shell up, in the pan. Broil until they are firm and their tops lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Brush lightly with olive oil if you like, sprinkle with salt, and serve with lemon wedges.
• To grill, brush the crabs with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Grill, turning once or twice, until browned and firm, 5 to 10 minutes. Brush with olive oil and serve with lemon or, if you like, melted butter.

GRILLED SOFT-SHELL CRABS WITH OLD BAY TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the sauce: add mayonnaise, peppers, capers, pickles, lemon juice, chives, tarragon, mustard, and Old Bay seasoning to a bowl; whisk to mix.
• Season to taste with black pepper; sauce can be refrigerated, covered, for at least 1 week; bring to room temperature before serving.
• The crabs: melt the butter in a small saucepan over med-high heat.
• Add in garlic, shallot, and Old Bay seasoning; cook until the garlic and shallot have lost their rawness, about 2 minutes; they should be soft and translucent; do not let them brown; set flavored butter aside.
• Set up grill for direct grilling; preheat to high.
• When ready to cook brush and oil the grill grate; brush the crabs on both sides with some of the flavored butter.
• Place the crabs on the hot grate and grill until cooked through, about 2-4 minutes per side, basting with some of the flavored butter.
• When done, the shells will turn bright red.
• Brush the bread slices with the remaining flavored butter and grill them as well, about 1 minute per side.
• To serve: slather the toast with some of the Old Bay Tartar Sauce; place a lettuce leaf, a few tomato slices, and 2 soft-shell crabs on top.
• Serve with the remaining tartar sauce on the side.

GRILLED SOFT-SHELL CRABS

Steps:

• Place the shallots in a saucepan with the lime juice and port. Reduce over medium heat until two tablespoons of sauce remain (five to seven minutes). Add heavy cream and grated ginger. Bring to a boil and reduce by a third to three tablespoons.
• Reduce heat to very low and whisk in the butter, a small piece at a time. Season to taste with salt and cayenne pepper. Strain the sauce through a fine mesh strainer and add a few more drops of lime juice if necessary. Keep warm (be careful not to overheat or the sauce may curdle).
• Preheat broiler or outdoor grill.
• Brush the crabs with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill three to four minutes on each side, until crisp and a deep reddish brown.
• Arrange the crabs on a serving platter, drizzle sauce over them and sprinkle with scallions and coriander.