Grilled Softshell Crabs with Jicama Salad and Tomato–Avocado Salsa

Name: Grilled Softshell Crabs with Jicama Salad and Tomato–Avocado Salsa
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: serves 4
Ingredients: 1 medium jicama, peeled and julienned; 3 medium cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and julienned; 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro, plus sprigs for garnish; 7 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil; 5 tbsp. fresh lime juice; Salt; 2 medium tomatoes, diced; 3 serrano chiles, seeded, if desired, and minced; 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced; 1 medium white onion, peeled and finely chopped; 1 avocado, peeled and diced; 8 softshell crabs, cleaned; 1 lime, cut into wedges

Serves
serves 4

Chef Rick Bayless, founder of the famed Frontera Grill and Topolobampo in Chicago, prepared this dish by simply grilling softshell crabs and serving them with a crunchy slaw made of jicama, a root vegetable with a flavor reminiscent of fresh water chestnuts.

Ingredients

1 medium jicama, peeled and julienned
3 medium cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and julienned
1 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro, plus sprigs for garnish
7 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
5 tbsp. fresh lime juice
Salt
2 medium tomatoes, diced
3 serrano chiles, seeded, if desired, and minced
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1 medium white onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 avocado, peeled and diced
8 softshell crabs, cleaned
1 lime, cut into wedges

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Instructions

Step 1

Combine jicama, cucumber, and 1⁄2 cup chopped cilantro in a medium bowl. Dress with 4 tbsp. olive oil and 4 tbsp. lime juice. Season to taste with salt, mix well, and set aside.

Step 2

In a separate bowl, combine tomatoes, chiles, garlic, onions, avocado, and remaining chopped cilantro. Dress with remaining lime juice, season with salt, and mix gently; set aside.

Step 3

Lightly brush a hot grill or grill pan with 1 tbsp. oil. Brush crabs with remaining 2 tbsp. oil, then place on grill and cook until firm, about 2 minutes on each side. To serve, divide jicama salad and tomato-avocado salsa among four plates. Top each plate with 2 crabs and garnish with cilantro sprigs and lime wedges.

Combine jicama, cucumber, and 1⁄2 cup chopped cilantro in a medium bowl. Dress with 4 tbsp. olive oil and 4 tbsp. lime juice. Season to taste with salt, mix well, and set aside.
In a separate bowl, combine tomatoes, chiles, garlic, onions, avocado, and remaining chopped cilantro. Dress with remaining lime juice, season with salt, and mix gently; set aside.
Lightly brush a hot grill or grill pan with 1 tbsp. oil. Brush crabs with remaining 2 tbsp. oil, then place on grill and cook until firm, about 2 minutes on each side. To serve, divide jicama salad and tomato-avocado salsa among four plates. Top each plate with 2 crabs and garnish with cilantro sprigs and lime wedges.