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Tempura Soft-shell Crab with Asian Slaw

Ingredients:

Canola or vegetable oil

cake flour or all-purpose flour

1/2 Cups

teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt

3/4 Teaspoons

large egg yolk

soda water

1/4 Cups

jumbo soft-shell crabs, dressed

Asian Slaw

Crab Dipping Sauce

Garnish: toasted sesame seeds

Preparation mode:

Step 1

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

Step 2

In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt. 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).

Step 3

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.

Step 4

Cut crabs in half. Serve with Asian Slaw and Crab Dipping Sauce. Garnish, if desired.

Step 5

Wine note: “A crisp bubbly is traditionally a beautiful bedfellow for preparations involving frying, seafood, or soy sauce. This dish manages to combine all three, making a bubbly such as Zardetto Prosecco ($10) a no-brainer. The prosecco’s clean, tart flavor whisks away the tempura’s greasy baggage like a bellhop at the Four Seasons.” –Mark Oldman

Footnotes:

Make the tempura batter just before dipping the crabs. The bubbles in the soda water help keep the tempura light and crispy.