Tempura Soft-Shell Crab

Name: Tempura Soft-Shell Crab
Ingredients: vegetable oil, enough to fry your amount of crab with; 1 1/2 cups cake flour or 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 3/4 teaspoon sea salt or 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 large egg yolk; 1 1/4 cups soda water; 8 jumbo soft-shell crabs, dressed; toasted sesame seeds, to garnish

7 ingredients

5 steps

Ingredients

vegetable oil, enough to fry your amount of crab with
1 1/2 cups cake flour or 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon sea salt or 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 large egg yolk
1 1/4 cups soda water
8 jumbo soft-shell crabs, dressed
toasted sesame seeds, to garnish

Directions

1

Pour oil to a depth of 1 inch into a large Dutch oven, and heat to 350°.
2

In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt.
3

Stir yolk into soda water in a 2-cup measure until blended; pour over flour mixture, and, using a large fork, gently combine (the batter should remain slightly lumpy and should have the consistency of heavy cream).
4

Dip 2 crabs into batter, letting excess batter drip back into bowl, and carefully slip into the hot oil, top-side down. Fry 1 1/2 minutes per side, until golden brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels, then transfer to a baking sheet, and keep warm in a 200° oven. Repeat with remaining oil and crabs.
5

Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and serve with Asian Slaw and Crab Dipping Sauce.