Recipes

Batter-Fried Hard-Shell Blue Crab

Batter Fried Hard Shell Blue Crab
Photo by Jonathan Boncek

Make SNOB’s recipe for batter-fried hard-shell blue crab for spice and all things nice. Have blue crab in a spicy beer batter that brings the Atlantic crustaceans from the sea to the plate in a yummy way. This recipes is a longtime reader favorite, regularly topping our most popular recipes lists.

yields

2 to 4 servings

    Spicy Beer Batter
  • 2 cups self-rising flour
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 12-ounce beer
  • 4-6 fresh live crabs
  • Oil for frying
  • Dipping Sauce
  • 2 cups mayonnaise
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1 cup Crystal hot sauce
  • ½ cup yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
steps
  1. Make the spicy beer batter mixing the dry ingredients together. Separately, whip the eggs and add the beer to the eggs. Mix the wet into the dry.
  2. Make the dipping sauce by mixing all ingredients together. Refrigerate while you tackle the rest.
  3. Heat oil in deep pot or fryer to at 325-350 degrees
  4. Prepare crab by removing outer shell, mouth, eyes and apron. Remove the lungs, the “dead man”, and the guts from the center of the crab, keeping claws and legs intact.* The crab is now ready to fry.
  5. Dip crabs into batter and deep fry for 3- 5 minutes, until crab floats and turns golden brown.
  6. Serve with dipping sauce and don’t be afraid to get messy.
  • from Chef Frank Lee of SNOB in Charleston, South Carolina

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