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Tempura-Fried Soft-Shell Crab Sandwiches with Tartar Sauce Slaw and Crispy Old Bay Chips

Tempura-Fried Soft-Shell Crab Sandwiches with Tartar Sauce Slaw and Crispy Old Bay Chips
Prep Time
25 min
Cook Time
20 min
Yields
4 servings

This crunchy, savoury sandwich is layered with fried soft crab, homemade tarter sauce slaw and seasoned potato chips.

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ingredients

Tartar Sauce Slaw

½
cup cornichons, finely diced
½
cup mayonnaise
2
Tbsp capers, drained
1
Tbsp dijon mustard
Pinch sugar
Juice of ½ lemon
¼
Spanish onion, grated
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
½
small head white cabbage, shredded

Old Bay Potato Chips

1
bag potato chips, such as Lay's or Kettle
1
Tbsp seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay

Soft-Shell Crabs

Canola oil, for deep-frying
3
cups rice flour
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Few dashes hot sauce, optional
4
soft-shell crabs, cleaned

Sandwiches

4
soft potato buns
2
heirloom tomatoes, sliced
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directions

Notes

Special equipment: a deep-frying thermometer

Step 1

Whisk together the cornichons, mayonnaise, capers, mustard, sugar, lemon juice, onion and some salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the cabbage and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Step 2

1.

Step 3

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Spread the potato chips in an even layer on a baking sheet and bake, just to warm, 2 minutes. Put the Old Bay in a small mesh strainer and tap evenly over the chips; toss the chips lightly.

Step 4

1.

Step 5

Set a rack in a baking sheet. Heat 3 to 4 inches of oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat until it registers 375 degrees F on a deep-frying thermometer. Whisk together 2 cups of the rice flour and 2 cups water until smooth, then season with salt and pepper and some hot sauce if using.

Step 6

Put the remaining 1 cup rice flour in a shallow dish and season with some salt and pepper. Sprinkle the crabs with salt and pepper.

Step 7

Dredge 2 crabs in flour and tap off the excess. Dip in the tempura batter, letting any excess run off. Fry until golden brown, crispy and just cooked through, turning occasionally, about 5 minutes. Drain on the rack. Repeat with the remaining 2 crabs.

Step 8

Put some of the slaw on the bottom of each bun and top with a fried crab. Add a bit more slaw and a tomato slice and top with chips. Close sandwiches with the tops of the buns and serve immediately.

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