Chargrilled Blue Crabs 🦀🔥

Prep/Marinate Time: 15 - 30 min Method: Grill

🛒 Ingredients

For the Crabs & Marinade:

• Blue Crabs – Females preferred (look for the "orange nail polish" on the claws).

• 1 whole bottle of Italian dressing.

• Hot sauce – To taste.

• Roasted garlic paste.

• Garlic powder.

• Onion powder.

• Paprika.

• Crab boil seasoning – Be generous!

For the Basting Sauce & Finishing:

• Butter.

• Lemon juice.

• Garlic paste.

• Parsley.

• Crab boil seasoning.

• Parmesan cheese.

🔪 Instructions

1. Clean & Prep Break down the crabs. You can keep the fat for flavor, but make sure to remove the lungs (known in NOLA as "the dead man"). Crack the claws to let the marinade penetrate, and give them one final rinse.

2. The Marinade In a large bowl or tray, combine the bottle of Italian dressing, hot sauce, roasted garlic paste, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and your favorite crab boil seasoning.

• Chef’s Tip: "If you ain't sneezing, it ain't seasoned."

• Pour the mixture over the crabs and let them marinate for 15 to 30 minutes.

3. Hit the Grill (Round 1) Place the crabs on a hot grill face down. Close the lid and let them cook for about 5 to 7 minutes.

4. Flip & Make the Sauce Open the lid, flip the crabs over, and let them cook for another 10 minutes. While they cook, prepare your basting sauce: warm up a mixture of butter, lemon juice, garlic paste, parsley, and a bit more crab boil seasoning.

5. The Baste & Finish Paint the crabs generously with the butter sauce while they are on the grill. Once the sauce starts bubbling, top them with as much Parmesan cheese "as the Lord allows." Let it melt and bubble slightly. Remove from the grill and enjoy!