Pan-Fried Soft-Shell Crab with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Pickled Ramps, and Lemon Puree

Name: Pan-Fried Soft-Shell Crab with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Pickled Ramps, and Lemon Puree
Ingredients: 2 pounds ramps, cleaned, trimmed, white and green parts separated; 1 cup very hot water; 1/2 cup rice-wine vinegar; 6 tablespoons sugar; 2 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt; 1 teaspoon schichimi togarashi (Japanese 7-spice powder; optional); 1 teaspoon kochukaru (optional); 1 tablespoon whole white peppercorns (optional); 2 pounds fingerling potatoes, halved lengthwise (quartered if large); 3 to 4 cloves garlic, crushed; 5 to 6 sprigs fresh thyme; Coarse salt; 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil; 1 tablespoon salted butter; 3 to 4 tablespoons canola oil; 4 soft-shell crabs, cleaned; 1 to 2 cloves garlic, crushed; 3 to 4 sprigs fresh thyme; 3 to 4 slices lemon (optional); 1 tablespoon salted butter; Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper; Lemon Puree , for serving

Recipe photo courtesy of Rob Tannenbaum

Serve up a fresh, seasonal menu featuring soft-shell crabs and ramps, sure signs of spring, with this recipe from Momofuku chef David Chang.

Source: The Martha Stewart Show, Episode 7136

Ingredients

Directions

1. Make the ramps: Separate white and green parts of ramps, reserving green parts for potatoes. Place white parts of ramps in container and set aside.
2. In a large saucepan, mix together hot water, vinegar, sugar, salt, and schichimi togarashi, kochukaru, and white peppercorns, if using; bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Pour cooled mixture over ramps and cover; transfer to refrigerator for at least 3 days and up to 1 month. Drain before using.
3. Make the potatoes: Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
4. Place potatoes, garlic, and thyme in a large saucepan and add enough water to cover; generously season with salt. Place over medium-high heat and simmer just until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain and spread out on a baking sheet to cool completely.
5. Cut cooled potatoes lengthwise on the bias. Heat grapeseed oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat and place potatoes cut-side down in skillet. Transfer to oven and cook until a nice brown crust appears, about 20 minutes. Return to stove over medium-high heat and add butter; cook basting with oil and butter mixture. Add reserved greens from ramps to skillet and season with salt; toss to combine and remove from heat.
6. Make the crabs: Meanwhile, heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season crabs with salt and pepper and add to skillet. Cook until red and crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn crabs and add garlic, thyme, lemon slices, if using, and butter. Cook, basting with butter, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
7. Spread 1 tablespoon lemon puree on each of 4 plates. Top with potatoes and crab; garnish with pickled ramps and serve immediately.

Cook's Notes

When buying soft-shell crabs, select crabs that are alive with shells that are very soft.

Reviews

How would you rate this recipe?

Frank Jovine

1 JUN, 2014

You missed big here. The recipe makes the main course too oily and doesn't do justice for the outside layer of the crab. Being from Long Island, I would not recommend this recipe.
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Pan-Fried Soft-Shell Crab with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Pickled Ramps, and Lemon Puree

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Pan-Fried Soft-Shell Crab with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Pickled Ramps, and Lemon Puree

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