Ingredients

  • 1 cup French green beans
  • 8 cups mixed baby lettuces
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced yellow bell pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 8 soft-shell crabs, dressed
  • Vegetable oil

Method

  • Boil green beans in water to cover 2 minutes; drain. Plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process; drain again.
  • Combine green beans, lettuces, and bell peppers; set aside.
  • Combine flour and next 4 ingredients in a shallow dish; set aside.
  • Combine milk and buttermilk.
  • Dredge crabs in flour mixture, and dip in milk mixture. Dredge in flour mixture again.
  • Pour oil to depth of 1 inch into a Dutch oven; heat to 350°. Fry crabs 1 to 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels. Cut crabs in half.
  • Toss together bean mixture and 1/2 cup red wine vinaigrette; place on serving plates. Arrange 4 crab halves on each salad and dollop each with shallot-dill mayonnaise. Serve immediately.