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 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 soft shell crab cleaned; 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning; 4 English muffin halved and toasted; 8 large egg; 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1/4 teaspoon paprika; 10 asparagus spear trimmed and halved; 1 cup cherry tomato halved; 2 tablespoons olive oil; salt to taste; pepper to taste

A delicious twist on the classic Eggs Benedict!

Category Brunch

Prep 20 minutes

Cook 25 minutes

Style American

Technique Sauteeing

Diet Friendly Pescatarian

Daily recipe · March 25, 2023

A little about this dish

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.

A final fox tip

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.