Soft-Shell Crabs With Tomato Compote

  5.0 – 1 reviews  • Crab Recipes
Level: Intermediate
Total: 1 hr 15 min
Prep: 15 min
Cook: 1 hr
Yield: 4 servings
Level: Intermediate
Total: 1 hr 15 min
Prep: 15 min
Cook: 1 hr
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  1. 3 pounds medium tomatoes
  2. 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  3. Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  4. 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds
  5. 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
  6. 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  7. 1 tablespoon chopped peeled ginger
  8. 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil and/or cilantro
  9. Vegetable oil, for frying
  10. 2 cups polenta
  11. Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  12. 1 cup whole milk
  13. 8 large fresh soft-shell crabs, cleaned
  14. Lime wedges, for serving

Instructions

  1. Prepare the compote: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Core the tomatoes and halve crosswise, then squeeze out the seeds. Put the tomatoes cut-side up on a baking sheet. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons olive oil; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Roast until shriveled, about 40 minutes. Cool slightly, then slip off the skins. Cut into chunks.
  2. Toast the coriander and cumin seeds in a skillet over medium heat, about 2 minutes. Remove from the skillet and grind with a spice grinder or chop with a knife. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the garlic and ginger in the skillet over medium heat and cook until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes, ground coriander and cumin, and salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Prepare the crabs: Heat 1/8 inch vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Put the polenta in a baking dish; add 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Put the milk in a bowl. Dip the crabs in the milk and shake off the excess, then dredge in the polenta and shake off the excess.
  4. Working in batches, fry the crabs, upside-down first, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towellined plate. Wipe out the skillet and add fresh oil between batches.
  5. Reheat the compote and stir in the herbs. Serve the crabs with the compote and lime wedges.
  6. Photograpg by Con Poulos

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 4 servings
Calories 1327
Total Fat 104 g
Saturated Fat 9 g
Carbohydrates 82 g
Dietary Fiber 8 g
Sugar 13 g
Protein 21 g
Cholesterol 47 mg
Sodium 1492 mg
Serving Size 1 of 4 servings
Calories 1327
Total Fat 104 g
Saturated Fat 9 g
Carbohydrates 82 g
Dietary Fiber 8 g
Sugar 13 g
Protein 21 g
Cholesterol 47 mg
Sodium 1492 mg

 

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