Tempura Soft-shell Crab with Asian Slaw

Make the tempura batter just before dipping the crabs. The bubbles in the soda water help keep the tempura light and crispy.

Yield: Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

• Canola or vegetable oil
• 1 1/2  cups  cake flour or all-purpose flour
• 3/4  teaspoon  sea salt or kosher salt
• 1  large egg yolk
• 1 1/4  cups  soda water
• 8  jumbo soft-shell crabs, dressed
• Asian Slaw
• Crab Dipping Sauce
• Garnish: toasted sesame seeds

Preparation

Pour oil to a depth of 1 inch into a large Dutch oven, and heat to 350°.

In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt. Stir yolk into soda water in a 2-cup measure until blended; pour over flour mixture, and, using a large fork, gently combine (the batter should remain slightly lumpy and should have the consistency of heavy cream).

Dip 2 crabs into batter, letting excess batter drip back into bowl, and carefully slip into the hot oil, top-side down. Fry 1 1/2 minutes per side, until golden brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels, then transfer to a baking sheet, and keep warm in a 200° oven. Repeat with remaining oil and crabs.

Cut crabs in half. Serve with Asian Slaw and Crab Dipping Sauce. Garnish, if desired.

Wine note: "A crisp bubbly is traditionally a beautiful bedfellow for preparations involving frying, seafood, or soy sauce. This dish manages to combine all three, making a bubbly such as Zardetto Prosecco ($10) a no-brainer. The prosecco's clean, tart flavor whisks away the tempura's greasy baggage like a bellhop at the Four Seasons." --Mark Oldman