Sautéed Soft-Shell Crab Sandwiches With Pickled Vegetables, Cilantro, And Ginger-Chili Mayo Recipe

• 1 medium carrot, peeled and cut into fine matchsticks
• 1 medium cucumber, seeds removed, split lengthwise into 1/4-inch spears
• 1/2 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 tablespoons
• ,
• , or other chili paste
• 1 (1-inch) piece fresh peeled ginger, finely grated on microplane
• 1 medium garlic clove, finely grated on microplane
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 6 large soft-shell crabs, preferably jumbo or "whale" size,
• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 Vietnamese-style baguettes, split and lightly toasted, or 1 French baguette, halved, split, and lightly toasted
• 2 scallions, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced lengthwise
• Cilantro leaves and fine stems from 1 bunch, for serving

1. Combine carrot, cucumber, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Using fingertips, massage salt and sugar into vegetables until dissolved. Add rice vinegar and water and let stand for at least 25 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, thoroughly mix together mayonnaise, chili paste, ginger, and garlic. Season with salt.
3. In a shallow bowl, stir together cornstarch with a pinch of salt. Lightly dredge crabs in the seasoned cornstarch.
4. In a large, wide skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add crabs, shell-side down, and cook until golden and crisp, about 3 minutes; be careful, as soft-shell crabs sometimes pop in the pan. Flip crabs and cook until golden and crisp on bottom side, about 3 minutes. Transfer crabs to paper-towel-lined plates.
5. Drain carrot and cucumber. Spread top and bottom halves of baguettes with ginger-chili mayonnaise. Arrange 3 crabs on each of the bottom halves and top with scallions and pickled carrot and cucumber. Top with cilantro sprigs, close sandwiches, and serve immediately.

carrot, cucumber, sugar, kosher salt, rice vinegar, water, mayonnaise, ginger, garlic, cornstarch, softshell crabs, vegetable oil, baguettes, scallions, cilantro

Taken from www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2014/05/sauteed-soft-shell-crab-sandwiches-recipe.html (may not work)