Soft Shell Crab Season

**johnniegold** · 05-11-2008, 11:56 AM

One of my favorite foods is soft shell crabs. When they are in season, I am a happy guy. Wifey and my kids love them too.

I prepare them very simply by melting a 1/2 stick of butter and some minced garlic in a saute pan, dip the crab in egg, then flour, put them in the pan, drizzle some lemon over them and some Old Bay and presto.

Anybody have a recipe for Soft Shell crabs that they want to share? I would like to have some different ways to prepare them.

**AACJ** · 05-11-2008, 12:08 PM

I can't say I differ my soft shell recipe much from that. Sometimes being simple is the way to go.

We have the good fortune to have a nice lady that sells crabs, soft AND hard all year long. When she isn't getting them from the bay, she has them shipped from Texas, Louisianna, Alabama and Florida.

**ouch** · 05-11-2008, 12:25 PM

They've become prohibitively expensive these days (I recall paying a buck apiece

) but they're one of the wonders of the food world. I love 'em fried and topped with black bean sauce.

**AustinC9** · 05-11-2008, 12:26 PM

Do you eat the whole thing, shell and all?

**AACJ** · 05-11-2008, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by AustinC9

Do you eat the whole thing, shell and all?

ABSOLUTELY!!

**Zeni** · 05-11-2008, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by AustinC9

Do you eat the whole thing, shell and all?

Soft shell crabs are crabs that have shed their shells. Yep you eat everything. Yum.

**Groundhog** · 05-11-2008, 12:32 PM

I've never actually prepared them, but I dearly love them. I had a soft-shell crab sandwich at a restaurant on Hatteras Island NC last weekend that was heavenly..

**ouch** · 05-11-2008, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by Zeni

Soft shell crabs are crabs that have shed their shells. Yep you eat everything. Yum.

What he said.

Just cut off the face and the gills.

**AACJ** · 05-11-2008, 12:38 PM

Did you go to Howard Pub? That's always one of my favorites there.

Originally Posted by Groundhog

I've never actually prepared them, but I dearly love them. I had a soft-shell crab sandwich at a restaurant on Hatteras Island NC last weekend that was heavenly..

**perry** · 05-11-2008, 12:48 PM

Who's going to send some to a poor Indiana boy?? I didn't eat them often when I lived in Maryland, but I remember enjoying them.

**Groundhog** · 05-11-2008, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by AACJ

Did you go to Howard Pub? That's always one of my favorites there.

No, some new place called Dirty Dick's right there on the marina where the ferry docks. Howard's is actually on Ocracoke, unless they have a location on Hatteras also. I love the OBX, just a helluva drive from Atlanta.

**johnniegold** · 05-11-2008, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by ouch

They've become prohibitively expensive these days (I recall paying a buck apiece

) but they're one of the wonders of the food world. I love 'em fried and topped with black bean sauce.

$83 for a dozen.

Originally Posted by AustinC9

Do you eat the whole thing, shell and all?

Originally Posted by AACJ

ABSOLUTELY!!

What the man said. Except for a little cleaning, you just eat the whole thing. It's that good.

**Bricktop** · 05-11-2008, 03:33 PM

Pretty much as the OP, but between two slices of white bread with some mayo.

Pure Heaven.

**jazzman** · 05-11-2008, 04:05 PM

Marinate in olive oil with a little Old Bay in the fridge for an hour or two. Throw onto a hot Weber (charcoal). Put cover down or replace your eyebrows. About two minutes later, turn. About one minute later, serve.