A beautifully plated dish featuring a toasted English muffin, topped with crispy soft shell crab and a perfectly poached egg drizzled with hollandaise sauce, served with a side of sautéed asparagus and cherry tomatoes.

Soft Shell Crab Benedict

Name: Soft Shell Crab Benedict
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: soft shell crab, 4 cleaned; Old Bay seasoning, 1 teaspoon; English muffin, 4 halved and toasted; large egg, 8; white wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon; lemon juice, 1 tablespoon; unsalted butter, 1/2 cup melted; salt, 1/4 teaspoon; cayenne pepper, 1/4 teaspoon; paprika, 1/4 teaspoon; asparagus spear, 10 trimmed and halved; cherry tomato, 1 cup halved; olive oil, 2 tablespoons; salt, to taste; pepper, to taste

Category Brunch

Prep 20 minutes

Cook 25 minutes

Style American

Technique Sauteeing

Diet Friendly Pescatarian

Daily Recipe: March 25, 2023

This recipe is perfect for a warm sunny brunch in New York City. Inspired by American cuisine, this dish features soft shell crab, a seasonal ingredient that is often enjoyed during spring season along with fresh herbs and vegetables.

Ingredients (for 4)

Soft shell crab - 4 - cleaned
Old bay seasoning - 1 teaspoon
English muffin - 4 - halved and toasted
Large egg - 8
White wine vinegar - 1 tablespoon
Lemon juice - 1 tablespoon
Unsalted butter - 1/2 cup - melted
Salt - 1/4 teaspoon
Cayenne pepper - 1/4 teaspoon
Paprika - 1/4 teaspoon
Asparagus spear - 10 - trimmed and halved
Cherry tomato - 1 cup - halved
Olive oil - 2 tablespoons
Salt - - to taste
Pepper - - to taste

Preparation

Step 1 - 🦀🧂

Season the crabs with Old Bay seasoning and set aside.
Step 2 - 🍅🌱🍳

In a large pan, cook asparagus and cherry tomatoes in olive oil until tender. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to serving dish and keep warm.
Step 3 - 🍳🌊🍶

Fill a large saucepan with water and bring it to a simmer. Add vinegar to the water.
Step 4 - 🥚🦀👨‍🍳

In another pan, cook the soft shell crabs in olive oil until browned on both sides. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
Step 5 - 🍳🥚🥣

Make hollandaise sauce by blending egg yolks, lemon juice, salt, cayenne pepper, and paprika. Add melted butter slowly while blending. Keep warm.
Step 6 - 🍳🌊🥄

Poach eggs by cracking them into simmering water and cook until the egg whites have set and the yolks are still runny. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
Step 7 - 🍽️🍳🥯

Place a toasted English muffin on each plate, top with a soft shell crab followed by a poached egg. Spoon the hollandaise sauce over the eggs. Serve with sautéed asparagus and cherry tomatoes.

Additional

Soft shell crab are only available during certain times of the year and can be a delicacy for seafood lovers. For a healthier option, swap the English muffin for a bed of spinach or arugula, and omit the hollandaise sauce or use a lighter version made with Greek yogurt or light mayo.