Soft Shell Chili Crabs With Mango Noodle Salad Recipes

FRIED SOFT-SHELL CRAB

Steps:

• Clean each crab. Lift one pointed side of top shell and remove the gills by pulling them out. Put top shell back down and repeat on other side. On the bottom side remove tail flap by twisting and pulling off. Using a pair of scissors, remove the face by cutting behind the eyes. Rinse the crabs thoroughly with cold water. Dry on paper towels.
• Heat oil in a deep fryer to 365 degrees F (180 degrees F). In a shallow dish, whisk together the egg and milk using a fork. In a separate bowl, stir salt and pepper into the flour. Lightly salt the crab, then dip in the flour, dip in the egg, then in the flour again.
• Carefully place crabs into the deep-fryer. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until golden brown on one side. Carefully turn over, and cook until golden on the other side. Drain on paper towels. Serve as soon as they are cool enough to eat. You can eat the whole crab.

MANGO NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, toss together the noodles, spinach, chiles and mango and set aside.
• Whisk together the vinegar, chili sauce, fish sauce, lime juice and peanut oil. Taste and adjust flavors if desired. Dress the salad just before serving.

CRAB NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• Mix the dressing ingredients together in a large bowl, taste and add seasoning, if you like. Cover the noodles in freshly boiled water and let soak for 5 mins, then drain, rinse under the cold tap and add to the bowl with the dressing. Stir through the courgette and leave to cool completely.
• Mix through the crabmeat and the rest of the ingredients. Using clean hands, pile onto plates, drizzling with any leftover dressing from the bowl. Serve with lime wedges.

SOFT-SHELL CHILI CRABS WITH MANGO NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare the crab by cutting away the face (this can taste bitter), slicing just behind the eyes. Next, lift the flap on the underside of the crab and cut this off. Loosen the top "shell" of the body and remove the gills. Rinse the crabs well.
• For the marinade: Mix together the ginger, peanut oil, rice wine, five-spice powder and cayenne in a bowl. Add the crabs, cover with plastic wrap and marinate for 30 minutes.
• Fill a wok halfway with peanut oil. Place over medium-high heat and heat the oil to 350 degrees F, or until a cube of bread turns golden brown in 15 seconds and floats to the surface.
• In a shallow bowl, stir together 2 heaping tablespoons sweet potato starch with the beaten eggs (the batter can have some lumps). Remove the crabs from the marinade. Dip the crabs in the batter and then dredge again in the remaining sweet potato starch. Carefully lower the crabs into the hot oil using a slotted spoon. Deep-fry until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels and season with the salt and dried chile flakes while they are still hot.
• Serve immediately over Mango Noodle Salad and garnish with the chives and Fresno chiles.
• In a large bowl, toss together the noodles, spinach, chiles and mango and set aside.
• Whisk together the vinegar, chili sauce, fish sauce, lime juice and peanut oil. Taste and adjust flavors if desired. Dress the salad just before serving.