Sea Legs

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons red curry paste
• Finely grated zest of 1 lime, plus the juice of 2 limes (about 1/4 cup)
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons Sriracha (Asian chile sauce)
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
• Sweet chili sauce, for serving
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 6 medium soft shell crabs, cleaned
• 1 cup cake flour (not self-rising)
• Kosher salt
• 1 cup cold seltzer
• 3 scallions, thinly sliced

1. Make the dipping sauces: Whisk the mayonnaise, curry paste, lime zest and 1 tablespoon of the lime juice in a small bowl until combined.
2. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
3. Combine the remaining lime juice with the garlic, fish sauce, sugar, Sriracha and 1 tablespoon cold water in a separate small bowl, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
4. Stir in the cilantro, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
5. Prepare the crab fries: Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 360 degrees F. Set a wire rack on a baking sheet.
6. Meanwhile, cut the crabs into quarters with kitchen shears; transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
7. Whisk the cake flour with 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl; add the seltzer and scallions and whisk just enough to make a lumpy batter.
8. Working in batches, dip the crab pieces in the batter, then carefully add them to the hot oil and fry until golden and crisp, about 2 minutes.
9. (Use a mesh screen if you have one; the crabs may splatter.)
10. Remove the crab fries with a strainer or slotted spoon and transfer to the wire rack; season with salt.
11. Let the oil return to 360 degrees F between batches.
12. Serve the crab fries with the sweet chili sauce, curry mayonnaise and cilantro-lime sauce.
13. Photograph by Ralph Smith

mayonnaise, red curry, lime, clove garlic, fish sauce, sugar, sriracha, fresh cilantro, sweet chili sauce, vegetable oil, shell crabs, cake flour, kosher salt, cold seltzer, scallions

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/name-this-dish-crab-fries.html (may not work)