Skip to main content

Busters and Grits

Image may contain Cutlery Spoon Food Bowl Dish and Meal
Busters and Grits Andrews McMeel Publishing

If you have difficulty finding buster crabs or small soft shells, you can use large soft shell crabs, quartered, and they'll still make a great dish.

Ingredients

Serves 6

Salt
1 cup white corn grits
6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup milk
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup flour
1 quart canola oil
6 small soft-shell blue crabs, cleaned
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 green onion, chopped
2 dashes Tabasco
  1. Step 1

    1. Bring 4 cups lightly salted water to a boil in a medium heavy-bottomed pot over high heat. Slowly pour the grits into the boiling water, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low. Stir the grits often to make sure they don't stick to the bottom of the pot. Simmer until all the water has been absorbed and the grits become soft, about 20 minutes.

    Step 2

    2. Stir in 3 tablespoons of the butter and the mascarpone. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the grits to keep a crust from forming.

    Step 3

    3. Whisk together the milk, eggs, cornmeal, flour, and Creole Spices in a medium bowl until smooth.

    Step 4

    4. Heat the canola oil in a deep skillet over high heat until it reaches a temperature of 350° on a candy thermometer. Dip the crabs in the cornmeal batter, then fry the crabs, turning once, until golden brown on both sides, about 7 minutes. Remove crabs from skillet and drain on paper towels. Season with salt and pepper.

    Step 5

    5. Heat the Crab Pan Sauce along with the garlic and green onions in a small saucepan over moderate heat.

    Step 6

    6. Bring to a boil, stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons butter and the Tabasco, and season with salt and pepper. Once you've added the butter, remove from heat.

    Step 7

    7. Spoon grits into a large serving bowl. Ladle a generous amount of sauce around the grits, then put the fried soft shells on top of the grits.

Reprinted with permission fromMy New Orleans: The Cookbook, by John Besh., © September 2009 Andrews McMeel Publishing
Sign InorSubscribe
to leave a Rating or Review

How would you rate Busters and Grits?

Leave a Review

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Burnt Toast Soup With an Egg on It
This garlicky, herby, and very thrifty soup takes pantry staples like bread and eggs and turns them into something spectacular.
Chicken Cutlets With Burst-Tomato Sauce
Warm and fragrant, this sauce is a versatile use for a surplus of cherry tomatoes. Spoon any leftovers over pork chops, grain bowls, or cheese and crackers.
Smothered Chicken With Cheesy Polenta
Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, this smothered fried chicken with polenta and herb gremolata is perfect for a dinner party.
One-Pot Chicken and Biscuits
This easy chicken and biscuits recipe is made with only one bowl and one skillet.
Soy-Garlic Popcorn Chicken and Rice Cakes
Crispy bite-size chicken and chewy rice cakes are made downright irresistible with a sticky, sweet, garlicky glaze.
Spicy Tomato and Black Olive Grandma Pie
A speedy take on a focaccia-based pizza (only 40 minutes of rest required!) with Calabrian chile–spiked sauce and salty cured olives.
Crispy Potato Skins With Fried Herb Aioli
Potatoes and aioli are a match made in heaven, but fried herbs, capers, and cornichons take these crispy potato skins to the next level.
Spicy Sausage Ragù With Scissor-Cut Noodles
A quick sausage ragù with sweet-spicy gochujang and lots of butter. Excellent with handmade or store-bought noodles.