Crispy Soft-Shell Crabs with Butter Noisette and Aged Balsamic Vinegar Recipe

Crispy Soft-Shell Crabs with Butter Noisette and Aged Balsamic Vinegar Recipe

  • 6 tablespoons Clarified Butter
  • 8 2-ounce soft-shell crabs
  • Fleur de sel and freshly ground pepper
  • All-purpose flour (for coating)
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup strained fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
  • 2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons chopped drained capers
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 2 tablespoons seeded, finely diced tomato
  1. Preheat the oven to 200°F. Heat 3 tablespoons of the clarified butter in a heavy large saute pan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the crabs with fleur de sel and pepper. Dredge 4 of the crabs in the flour; shake off the excess flour. Add the coated crabs to the clarified butter and cook until golden brown and crisp, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer the crabs to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Wipe out the saute pan. Repeat with the remaining 3 tablespoons clarified butter and 4 crabs.
  2. Add the unsalted butter to the saute pan. Stir over medium-low heat until the butter melts and is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the lemon juice, ginger, vinegar, capers, parsley, and tomato. Season the sauce to taste with fleur de sel and pepper.
  3. Place 2 crabs on each of 4 plates. Spoon the sauce over the crabs and serve immediately.