Parmesan-Crusted Soft-Shell Crab Sandwiches

-----------------------------YIELD: 8 SERVINGS----------------------------- 2 c Flour

1 c Parmesan; grated

1/2 ts Salt

1/4 ts Pepper

2 Egg; lightly beaten

1/4 ts Tabasco

1 c Mayonnaise

1 Lemon; juiced

Zest of 1 lemon; finely -grated 1/2 ts Garlic; minced

1/2 ts Thyme

1 tb Olive oil; extra-virgin

1 c Oil; for frying

8 Soft-shell crabs; cleaned

8 Rolls, hard; halved

2 md Tomatoes; thinly sliced

2 Bn Arugula; large stems

-removed In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup of the flour with the Parmesan, salt and pepper. Make a well in the center and add the eggs and 1/4 cup of water. Beat the eggs and water together and gradually incorporate the flour mixture to form a smooth batter. Add 1/8 teaspoon of the Tabasco and set aside to rest for 30 minutes. In another bowl, combine the mayonnaise, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, thyme, olive oil and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon Tabasco. Whisk to blend and set aside for at least 30 minutes. (The recipe can be prepared to this point up to 1 day ahead. Refrigerate the batter and mayonnaise. If the batter becomes very thick, thin it out with a little water.) Preheat the oven to 250F. In a large skillet, heat the peanut oil over moderately high heat to 350F. Dredge the crabs in the remaining 1 cup flour and shake off the excess. Dip 4 of the crabs in the batter, let some of the batter drip off, and then fry them in the skillet, turning once, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels, place on a heatproof platter and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with the 4 remaining crabs. Scoop out some of the bread from the center of the rolls to hollow them slightly. Spread 2 heaping teaspoons of the mayonnaise on each half. Assemble the sandwiches by placing 2 or 3 slices of tomato and 4 or 5 arugula leaves on the bottom half of each roll. Set the fried crabs on top and close the sandwiches. Serve immediately. Serves 8. Recipe from Food & Wine, June, 1991. Submitted By [email protected] (SAM WARING) On 4 JUN 1995 073117 ~0600