Best 10 Sauteed Soft Shell Crabs With Tomatoes Recipes

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**Savory Soft-Shell Crabs with Tomatoes: A Culinary Journey**

Indulge in a delectable journey of flavors with sautéed soft-shell crabs, a dish that tantalizes the taste buds with its crispy texture and succulent flavors. These crabs, known for their delicate meat and unique appearance, are carefully sautéed to perfection, achieving a golden-brown exterior while preserving their tender interior. Accompanied by a vibrant tomato sauce, this dish is a symphony of flavors that will transport you to a seaside haven. In this article, we present not just one but three enticing recipes for sautéed soft-shell crabs with tomatoes, each offering a distinct culinary adventure. From a classic preparation to a spicy twist and a delightful variation with lemon butter sauce, these recipes cater to diverse palates and promise an unforgettable dining experience. So, embark on this culinary voyage and discover the hidden treasures of sautéed soft-shell crabs, paired harmoniously with the tangy sweetness of tomatoes.

Let's cook with our recipes!

SAUTEED SOFT-SHELL CRABS WITH CAPER BROWN BUTTER



Sauteed Soft-Shell Crabs with Caper Brown Butter image

Provided by Tyler Florence

Categories     main-dish

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 cups all-purpose flour
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 medium soft-shell crabs, cleaned and rinsed
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
2 tablespoons capers, drained
1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc
1 lemon, juiced
1 handful fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
Lemon wedges, for serving

Steps:

  • To prepare the soft-shell crabs: Put the flour in a pie dish or plate and season with a fair amount of salt and pepper. Dredge the crabs in the seasoned flour to coat, shaking off the excess. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high flame. Lay the crabs in the hot oil in a single layer without crowding; you may have to fry them in batches. Be careful, the crabs have a tendency to pop and spatter. Cook the crabs for about 3 minutes on each side, turning once, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and cover to keep warm.
  • Lower the heat to medium and add the butter to the pan. Let the butter melt and cook until it just begins to brown. Add the capers and wine; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes until almost dry. Add the lemon juice and parsley; season with salt and pepper. Pour the caper brown butter sauce over the crabs and serve with lemon wedges.

SAUTEED SOFT-SHELL CRABS WITH GARLIC AND BUTTER



Sauteed Soft-shell Crabs with Garlic and Butter image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     appetizer

Time 32m

Yield 3 appetizer servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

3 soft-shell crabs, cleaned and patted dry
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup flour
2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 garlic, sliced
2 tablespoons capers, drained
1/2 cup white wine
1 tablespoon butter
Few chive blades, chopped
Essence, for garnish, recipe follows
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme

Steps:

  • Season crabs with salt and pepper and dredge in the flour, shaking off excess. Set aside.
  • In a large skillet over medium high heat, add the oil and saute the crabs until soft, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove the crabs and set aside. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Then add the capers and white wine. Cook until wine has reduced to about 1/2. Swirl in the butter and the chopped chives. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Transfer crabs to a plate, spoon sauce over the crabs and garnish with Essence.
  • Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
  • Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

SAUTEED SOFT-SHELL CRABS WITH TOMATOES



Sauteed Soft-Shell Crabs With Tomatoes image

Provided by Moira Hodgson

Categories     dinner, main course

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 shallot finely chopped
1/2 clove of garlic, chopped
3 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoon fresh basil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut in small pieces
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
4 tablespoons capers
Flour for dredging
Peanut oil for deep frying, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep
8 ready-to-cook soft-shell crabs
Milk for dipping
Flour for dredging
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
3 tablespoons peanut oil
Parsley or basil leaves for garnishing
4 lemon wedges

Steps:

  • Heat olive oil in saute pan and add shallot and garlic. Cook gently for about two minutes or until the shallot has softened. Add tomatoes and basil and stir until juices are released.
  • Turn up heat and cook until tomatoes are somewhat dry. Remove from heat, swirl in the butter and season to taste with salt and pepper. Keep warm.
  • Rinse capers, dry them and sprinkle them with flour. Heat peanut oil and fry capers until light golden brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels. Discard oil.
  • Prepare crabs. Dip crabs in milk, then in flour, season with salt and pepper. Heat three tablespoons peanut oil in large skillet and saute the crabs, starting with the shell side, the crab's top side, down first, for a few minutes. Turn over and saute for one and a half to two minutes on underside. Drain on paper towels.
  • Serve crabs on heated individual plates. Divide the tomatoes among four plates and place crabs on top. Sprinkle with the fried capers and garnish with parsley or basil leaves and lemon wedges.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 514, UnsaturatedFat 36 grams, Carbohydrate 11 grams, Fat 49 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 10 grams, SaturatedFat 11 grams, Sodium 514 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams

SOFT-SHELL CRABS WITH CURRY BUTTER



Soft-Shell Crabs With Curry Butter image

Fans of soft-shell crab look forward to the season - late spring and early summer - with feverish anticipation. The entire delicious crab is edible and may be prepared in many ways; deep-fried, grilled or pan-cooked. Here they are sautéed in a spicy curry butter, which complements the crabs' rich flavor. (The recipe makes more butter than is needed for this dish, but is wonderful to have on hand. Use extra for cooking vegetables or eggs.) Serve 1 large or 2 small soft-shell crabs per person.

Provided by David Tanis

Categories     dinner, lunch, main course

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
5 cloves
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 pound unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened
1/2 teaspoon grated garlic
2 teaspoons grated ginger
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Zest and juice of 1 lime, and lime wedges for garnish
1/4 cup unsalted roasted almonds, crushed
1/2 cup chopped scallions
1 cup rice flour, for dusting (optional)
4 large soft-shell crabs, about 5 ounces each, cleaned
8 ounces tender pea shoots or baby spinach

Steps:

  • Make the curry butter: Put the cumin seeds, coriander seeds, fennel seeds and cloves in a dry skillet over medium heat. When spices are lightly toasted and fragrant, after a minute or so, grind them to a powder in a mortar or electric spice mill. Add nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne and turmeric.
  • Put butter in a bowl. Add spices, garlic, ginger, salt and lime zest and juice. Mash seasonings into butter with a wooden spoon. Add crushed almonds and scallions, then mix until well incorporated. (May be prepared several hours ahead, or up to 1 day in advance.)
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 tablespoons curry butter, let melt and swirl pan to distribute. Dust crabs lightly with rice flour, if using. When butter is foamy, add crabs in one layer and raise heat. Let crabs cook 3 minutes, then turn, using tongs, and cook 3 minutes on the other side. (Be careful, as crabs may spatter.) Remove crabs and keep warm.
  • Add 4 tablespoons curry butter to pan and let sizzle. Add pea shoots and cook briefly until wilted, 1 minute or less.
  • Arrange crabs on a warm platter or individual plates. Garnish with wilted pea shoots and lime wedges. Spoon melted curry butter from pan over crabs and serve at once.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 604, UnsaturatedFat 19 grams, Carbohydrate 6 grams, Fat 52 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 30 grams, SaturatedFat 30 grams, Sodium 649 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 2 grams

SAUTEED SOFTSHELL CRABS



Sauteed Softshell Crabs image

Provided by R. W. Apple Jr.

Categories     dinner, easy, quick, main course

Time 20m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 cup flour
Salt and pepper to taste
8 cleaned soft-shell crabs
3/4 cup clarified butter
1/2 cup canola oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Steps:

  • Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Place flour on a plate, and season with salt and pepper. Dredge soft-shell crabs in flour, shaking off excess. When the skillet is hot, add half the butter and canola oil to a depth of about 1/4 inch. Add four crabs, backside down, being careful to avoid spattering. When they brown lightly, turn, and finish cooking on the other side, until cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes total, depending on the size of the crabs. Drain on paper towels, and repeat with remaining crabs, adding more butter or oil to pan if needed.
  • In a small bowl, stir together remaining clarified butter and lemon juice. Drizzle over crabs, sprinkle with parsley, and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 268, UnsaturatedFat 8 grams, Carbohydrate 25 grams, Fat 14 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 11 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 228 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 0 grams

SOFT-SHELL CRABS WITH WILTED SPINACH AND WARM TOMATO-BASIL VINAIGRETTE



Soft-Shell Crabs with Wilted Spinach and Warm Tomato-Basil Vinaigrette image

Categories     Leafy Green     Shellfish     Marinate     Sauté     High Fiber     Seafood     Crab     Spinach     Spring     Summer

Yield Serves 4

Number Of Ingredients 20

For the soft-shell crabs
8 soft shell crabs, cleaned (See note)
1 cup milk
flour for dusting
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
For the warm tomato-basil vinaigrette
1 cup red pear or cherry tomatoes (approximately 10-12 tomatoes), halved
1 cup yellow pear or cherry tomatoes (approximately 10-12 tomatoes), halved
1/2 cup red beefsteak tomato cut in 1-inch dice
1/2 cup yellow beefsteak tomato cut in 1-inch dice
1 shallot minced
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, cut julienne
1/3-1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, to taste
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the wilted spinach
1 pound fresh spinach, rinsed well and stems trimmed
1 tablespoon olive oil

Steps:

  • Make soft-shelled crabs:
  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Dip each crab in milk and them lightly coat both sides with flour. Heat butter and oil together in a large, oven proof (no plastic handles) pan over medium heat. Add crabs and sauté until crispy and golden, about 4 minutes. Place pan in preheated oven and cook 3 more minutes. Transfer crabs to paper toweling to absorb oil. Set aside and keep warm.
  • Make warm herb vinaigrette:
  • In a large bowl, combine shallots, basil, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice. After these ingredients are incorporated, add the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Mix well, cover with plastic and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • When ready to prepare dish, warm the vinaigrette in a sauce pan over high heat, removing from stove when it begins to simmer.
  • Make wilted spinach:
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add spinach and sauté 4 minutes, until wilted. Drain liquid.
  • Serve:
  • Place wilted spinach on one side of four individual dinner plates. Arrange two soft-shell crabs over each mound of spinach, overlapping one over the other. Spoon tomato vinaigrette over crabs and around the sides of the plate.
  • To properly clean a soft-shelled crab:
  • Peel back the pointed part of the shell and scrape away the gills from each side. Using sharp scissors, cut off the head and carefully squeeze out the green bubble behind the eyes. Next, bend back the "apron," the thin piece that folds under the crab. Twist the apron until it breaks off, removing the intestinal vein at the same time.

SAUTEED SOFT-SHELL CRAB



Sauteed Soft-Shell Crab image

Categories     Milk/Cream     Shellfish     Sauté     Quick & Easy     Crab     Spring     Parsley     Parade

Yield Makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 1/2 cups low-fat milk
4 small soft-shell crabs, cleaned
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
Rèmoulade Sauce , for serving

Steps:

  • 1. Place the milk in a shallow bowl large enough to hold the crabs in a single layer. Add the crabs and let them soak for 1 hour. Drain and discard the milk.
  • 2. Season the flour with salt and pepper in a paper or plastic bag. Lightly dredge each crab in the flour.
  • 3. Heat the oil and butter together in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and sautè the crabs in batches until golden, about 4 minutes per side. Add more oil and butter to the pan if necessary.
  • 4. To serve, place a crab in the center of 4 salad plates and garnish each with a sprinkle of chopped parsley and a small dollop of Rèmoulade Sauce.

SAUTEED SOFT-SHELL CRABS



Sauteed Soft-Shell Crabs image

Provided by Marian Burros

Categories     dinner, lunch, main course

Time 20m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

16 medium soft-shell crabs
1/2 cup sliced almonds
Flour for dredging
Salt and pepper to taste
8 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
Lemon wedges

Steps:

  • To clean the crabs: With a small knife cut off the apron at the rear of the body. Turn the crab and cut off the face at the point just behind the eyes. Lift each point of the crab at the sides and with your fingers clean out the feathery gills. Wash under cold water.
  • Toast almonds until golden.
  • Season flour with salt and pepper and dredge crabs lightly in flour. heat butter and oil in 1 or 2 skillets large enough to hold the crabs in a single layer and saute about 3 minutes on each side, until golden. Top with almonds and serve with lemon wedges.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 230, UnsaturatedFat 12 grams, Carbohydrate 3 grams, Fat 20 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 12 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Sodium 193 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 0 grams

PAN-FRIED SOFT-SHELL CRABS



Pan-Fried Soft-Shell Crabs image

Ask your fishmonger to clean soft-shell crabs for you. Crabs should be cooked no more than six hours after they are cleaned.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Seafood Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons coarse salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
12 soft-shell crabs, cleaned
12 tablespoons vegetable oil
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped
3 lemons, cut in half

Steps:

  • Whisk flour, salt, and pepper; place on a dinner plate. Dredge 2 soft-shell crabs in flour mixture, shaking off excess (make sure crabs are completely coated).
  • Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium sauté pan over medium-high heat. The oil should be very hot but not smoking. Place flour-coated crabs, back side down, in sauté pan; reduce heat to medium if pan starts to smoke. Sauté crabs until golden and crisp, about 3 minutes (do not stand too close to pan; crabs tend to spatter during cooking). Turn crabs over, and cook 2 minutes more.
  • Add 1 tablespoon butter and a large pinch of parsley to skillet. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over crabs. Keep warm in a low oven. Repeat process until all the crabs are cooked.

SAUTEED SOFT-SHELL CRABS



Sauteed Soft-Shell Crabs image

Provided by Moira Hodgson

Categories     dinner, lunch, main course

Time 40m

Yield 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 shallot, finely chopped
1/2 clove garlic, chopped (any green part removed)
2 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Cayenne pepper to taste
1/4 pound chilled, unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
1 teaspoon chopped parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1 to 2 drops lemon juice (optional)
2 medium leeks
Peanut oil for deep frying
8 hotel or 12 prime crabs, cleaned
Milk for dipping
Flour for dredging
3 tablespoons peanut oil
Parsley or basil leaves for garnishing

Steps:

  • Heat the olive oil in a saute pan and add shallot and garlic. Cook gently for about two minutes, or until translucent. Add the tomatoes and stir until the juices are released.
  • Turn up the heat and cook until the tomatoes are somewhat dry.
  • Season with salt, pepper and cayenne.
  • Remove from heat and whisk in the butter, a few cubes at a time. Adjust seasoning and stir in the parsley and basil. Add lemon if necessary. Keep the sauce warm (do not overheat or it may curdle).
  • Prepare the leeks. Remove the green part and cut the leeks in julienne. Wash and dry them thoroughly. Heat the peanut oil in a deep fryer and fry the leeks until light golden brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels and salt lightly. Set aside.
  • Prepare the crabs. Dip the crabs in milk, then in seasoned flour. Heat the peanut oil in a large skillet and saute the crabs, starting with the shell side down first, for two minutes. Turn over and saute for one-and-a-half to two minutes on the other side. Drain of paper towels.
  • Serve the crabs on heated plates. If serving two crabs person, spread tomato butter on each plate and place the crabs in a V shape, with the legs facing each other. Mound the fried leeks in the middle of the V and garnish with parsley or basil leaves. If serving three crabs, arrange them in a triangle and mound the the leeks in the center. Garnish.

Tips:

  • Choose soft-shell crabs that are fresh and have a mild seafood smell. Avoid crabs that have a strong ammonia smell or appear slimy.
  • Clean the crabs thoroughly by removing the gills, mouthparts, and intestines. Rinse the crabs well under cold water.
  • To prevent the crabs from sticking to the pan, make sure the pan is hot before adding the crabs.
  • Cook the crabs for a few minutes per side, or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
  • Serve the crabs immediately with your favorite dipping sauce, such as melted butter, lemon juice, or tartar sauce.

Conclusion:

Sautéed soft-shell crabs are a delicious and easy-to-make seafood dish. With their delicate flavor and crispy texture, they are a perfect appetizer or main course. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!

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