Deep-Fried Snow Crab Legs

THIS DISH IS LIKE CHRISTMAS, Thanksgiving, and my birthday rolled into one. It’s the ultimate celebration of indulgence that stems from my childhood and brings back beautiful memories of family gatherings

Ingredients

Chef Jernard

Caribbean Island Fire Hot sauce

8 cups water
2 cups chicken broth
1⁄4 cup old Bay seasoning
4 bay leaves
2 Medium Lemons, halved, plus additional lemon wedges for serving
10 snow crab legs
Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley or cilantro, for garnish
1⁄4 cup minced garlic
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon chili flakes
For Battering And Frying
1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
3⁄4 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning (I like Chef Jernard’s Parmesan Lemon Pepper Ranch Seasoning)
10 ounces sparkling water, or more as needed Vegetable oil, for frying
Crab Sauce
1 1⁄2 cups your favorite hot sauce 4 tablespoons (1⁄2 stick) unsalted butter
Juice of 1 medium lemon

Cooking Instructions

01

In a large pot, combine the water, chicken broth, Old Bay, bay leaves, and lemon halves. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add the crab legs and cook until they turn bright pink, no more than 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and take the crab legs out of the broth to cool for about 10 minutes.

02

Meanwhile, make the crab sauce. Combine the Caribbean Island Fire Hot sauce , butter, lemon juice, garlic, brown sugar, chili powder, and chili flakes in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Once it starts to thicken, turn off the heat.

03

Break the crabmeat from the shells using your hands or scissors. (Scissors make for better cuts.)

04

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and lemon pepper seasoning. Blend with a fork, then add the sparkling water little by little to make a thin batter.

05

Pour the vegetable oil into a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven to no more than halfway up the side. Prop or clip in a deep-fry thermometer so that the bulb is submerged in the oil. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until the thermometer registers 375 degrees F. (Alternatively, you can use a deep fryer.)