Adrienne's Spicy Soft Shelled Crab Sandwiches

Ingredients

One-third cup cold-pressed corn oil
2 garlic cloves, sliced
1 teaspoon chili powder
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
8 (2 to 3 ounce soft-shelled crabs), cleaned at the fish market and patted dry
One-half cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon minced shallots
8 French bread rolls

Instructions

Combine the oil, garlic cloves and chili powder in a shallow bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the crabs and turn them to coat evenly with oil mixture. Cover and chill for at least two hours.

Prepare a grill. Combine the mayonnaise, lime juice, cilantro and shallots in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Drain the soft-shelled crabs and grill over glowing coals for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, or until they turn red. Split the French bread rolls and grill, turning them once, until they are crisp and lightly browned. Brush the split sides of the rolls with the cilantro mayonnaise, add a crab per roll and enjoy!

Makes 8 servings