Soft Shelled Crabs
What can I say? We are a seafood family. I remember eating tons of seafood throughout my childhood in Virginia Beach.
My earliest memory of eating seafood was when I was about three or four. My brother and I loved playing in the den. One afternoon when it was lunch time my mom hand fed us crab. She would feed me, then I'd go off to play. Then she would feed my brother and he would run off to play. She would alternate feeding us. We just kept coming back for more crab. I became an instant fan of crab that day. The female crabs were my favorite because I loved eating the orange roe inside. It was so good.
These days I eat more fish like steelhead, salmon, trout, cod, haddock, and halibut. But from time to time when my mom and dad visit, we get treated to some delicious crab. This time they brought soft shelled crabs from Virginia Beach. Lately they have been shopping at Whole Foods but they also like a seafood place called the Dockside Restaurant and Marina on Shore Drive.
My mom graciously shared her drunken soft shell crab recipe. It's fantastic and it's perfect for Father's Day lunch or dinner. Give it a try and treat your dad this weekend with a special meal like this one.
Mom's Drunken Soft Shelled Crab
Ingredients
4 soft shelled crabs (have the fishmonger remove the lungs and clean them for you)
1/2 cup organic extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup beer
1 organic egg, beaten
1/2 cup organic milk (you could use almond milk or goat's milk if you have a dairy intolerance)
1/2 cup all purpose flour (we used gluten free all purpose flour)
Ground pepper to taste
Dash organic cumin
Dash organic paprika
Dash organic dried parsley
Directions
Heat your cast iron pan. Give your crabs a bath in the beer for 5 minutes. Place the crabs on a paper towel. Next mix the rest of the ingredients together in a large bowl. Place the crabs one by one into the bowl and roll them in the mixture. Add the olive oil in the pan. Once the pan sizzles with a tiny bit of water, place your crabs on the pan. Cook each side for 3 minutes. Cook until golden brown but don't overcook them. Serve with a salad and or nice fresh organic veggies. Enjoy!
Resources for Clean Eating
“We are a seafood family.”