Dressed crab
See this recipe step by step

Dressed crab

The MasterChef judge prepares a seafood classic step by step

Difficulty and servings

Moderately easy

Serves 2

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 40 mins

Method

  1. Put a knife between the body and head of the crab and twist to loosen it, then pull the top shell away (pic 1). Pull away the grey feathery gills from the body and discard. Scoop the brown meat from the top shell, discarding any plasticky-looking membrane (pic 2), and put in a bowl. the brown meat is quite wet, so add enough breadcrumbs to just bind it a little, then season with salt, pepper, lemon juice and tabasco or cayenne, a little at a time until you get the balance you like.
  2. Pull the claws and legs from the body of the crab. If you have time, there is meat to be teased from the spindlier legs using a pick; otherwise use them in a stock or soup. Crack the two large front claws with a mallet or the back of a heavy knife, then pick out the white meat, keeping it as chunky as possible (pic 3). Use a heavy knife to split the body of the crab down the middle (pic 4), then tease out the rest of the flesh from the little cavities in the body (pic 5). Collect all the white meat in a separate bowl and rub through it with your fingers to check for stray bits of shell.
  3. Give the empty shell a good scrub and trim using strong scissors. Spoon the white meat back into the top shell, then the flavoured brown meat. Garnish with parsley and serve with crusty bread, mayo and extra lemon.

PER SERVING

149 kcalories, protein 16.6g, carbohydrate 11.2g, fat 4.6 g, saturated fat 0.5g, fibre 0.4g, salt 1.05 g

Recipe from olive magazine, October 2010.

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Latest comments and suggestions

  • 06 May 2011

    lisa rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    A good way of cracking the claws is by using a good strong pair of nutcrackers and with the mayonaise i added a hint of crushed garlic.

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Difficulty and servings

Moderately easy

Serves 2

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 40 mins

Ingredients

  • 1 cooked crab
  • handful fresh white breadcrumbs
  • squeeze lemon , plus wedges to serve
  • Tabasco sauce or cayenne pepper
  • small bunch flat-leaf parsley , chopped
  • crusty bread , to serve
  • mayonnaise , to serve
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PER SERVING

149 kcalories, protein 16.6g, carbohydrate 11.2g, fat 4.6 g, saturated fat 0.5g, fibre 0.4g, salt 1.05 g

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