Grilled Soft-shell Crabs With Old Bay Tartar Sauce

Total Time: 38 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 8 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 12 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 shallot, minced
• 2 teaspoons old bay seasoning
• 12 soft shelled crabs, cleaned
• 6 slices bread
• 6 lettuce leaves (boston or bibb lettuce)
• 1 ripe tomato, thinly sliced
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 -2 pickled jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon drained capers
• 1 tablespoon chopped pickle (preferably cornichons)
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh tarragon basil
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• 1 1/2 teaspoons old bay seasoning
• fresh ground black pepper

Recipe

• 1 make the sauce: add mayonnaise, peppers, capers, pickles, lemon juice, chives, tarragon, mustard, and old bay seasoning to a bowl; whisk to mix.
• 2 season to taste with black pepper; sauce can be refrigerated, covered, for at least 1 week; bring to room temperature before serving.
• 3 the crabs: melt the butter in a small saucepan over med-high heat.
• 4 add in garlic, shallot, and old bay seasoning; cook until the garlic and shallot have lost their rawness, about 2 minutes; they should be soft and translucent; do not let them brown; set flavored butter aside.
• 5 set up grill for direct grilling; preheat to high.
• 6 when ready to cook brush and oil the grill grate; brush the crabs on both sides with some of the flavored butter.
• 7 place the crabs on the hot grate and grill until cooked through, about 2-4 minutes per side, basting with some of the flavored butter.
• 8 when done, the shells will turn bright red.
• 9 brush the bread slices with the remaining flavored butter and grill them as well, about 1 minute per side.
• 10 to serve: slather the toast with some of the old bay tartar sauce; place a lettuce leaf, a few tomato slices, and 2 soft-shell crabs on top.
• 11 serve with the remaining tartar sauce on the side.