Servings
Font
Back
4.9 from 198 votes

Soft-Shell Crabs with Garlic and Black Pepper

From ingredients to enjoyment, this recipe makes it easy to create something wonderful.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American , International

Ingredients

  • vegetable oil
  • 3 cups rice flour
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup minced garlic 
  • 1/2 cup fish sauce
  • 8 large soft shell crabs

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Fill a deep, heavy pot with a lid about one-third full with oil, and heat it until a deep-fat thermometer reads 375°F/ 190°C.
  2. In the meantime, combine the rice flour, salt, pepper, and garlic in a medium bowl.
  3. Put the fish sauce in a small bowl.
  4. Dip each piece of crab very briefly into the fish sauce, gently shaking off excess, and then into the rice flour mix.
  5. Roll the crab over and shake off any extra flour. Set aside. Repeat this process, until all the crab halves are dredged.
  6. When the oil reaches 375°F/ 190°C , gently lay the crabs, top side down, in the oil. Don’t crowd the pot—if necessary, fry them in batches—and use the lid as needed when the crabs are first added to the oil to avoid splattering.
  7. After 1 to 2 minutes, when the crabs are golden brown, turn them over and cook for another 2 minutes.
  8. Drain on clean brown paper bags and eat hot.

Notes