Crab and Dough, The Androsian Way
by
AndrosAnn1. First, catch yourself some crabs, drive the deserted roads of Andros after dark until you see a crab crossing the road. Screech to a halt, jump out and run down the crab!
2. With your trusty flashlight in one hand, pick up the crab. Watch your fingers!
3. Show off the fact that you have caught your first crab and you are on the way to making an Androsian/Bahamian Specialty.
4. Put crabs into crab bag, a crocus sack is ideal for the job!
5. When you get home, transfer crabs into your crab pen, a lobster or fish trap is ideal for the job!
6. Secure the pen so that there are no breakouts!
7. Feed and water your crabs, to clean them out and make them fat. They like leaves, fruit and coconut.
8. Happy contented crabs make for the best meal!
9. After a week or so, remove crabs from pen, they can be feisty so watch yourself as they will try to escape.
10. This one got away. Well for a little while at least. :)
11. Clip the crabs by breaking off the fins and biters. (just don't think about it)
12. Put clipped crabs in a bowl ready to carry inside.
Crab and Dough the Androsian Way - part 2First make sure you have followed all of the steps in part 1,
or that you have coerced a family member to send you some crabs via mailboat or plane,
or, and this is your last resort,
you have purchased half a dozen at some exorbitant rate from a roadside vendor in Nassau! :)
1. Clean the crab bodies, fins and biters under plenty of running water, scrub with a hard nail brush to remove all dirt. Use a toothbrush to scrub between their "toes".
2. Put cleaned crabs into a pot, add seasonings, salt, hot pepper, lime juice, maybe some garlic and thyme.
3. Make the dough. Put flour, salt and baking powder into a bowl.
4. Add some fat, shortening, margarine or butter and rub in with the fingertips until incorporated and no large lumps remain. You could stir in some finely grated coconut at this stage to make a coconut dough.
5. Add enough water to make a fairly soft, pliable dough.
6. Turn on to a floured board and knead until smooth.
7. Shape into a round large enough to cover the crabs in the pot.
8. Add water to the pot of crabs, just enough to come about half way up the crabs.
9. Place the dough on top of the crabs and tuck it down. (just like tucking your kids in in bed) :)
10. Put pot on stove and cook for about 30 minutes until the dough is risen and firm to the touch.
11. Serve your Crab and dough on a plate, make sure everyone gets a crab body, some fins and biters. Break the crab back from the body, dip the dough into the fat and then crack open the fins, biters and body to extract the meat.
Enjoy
12. The aftermath!
