Crunchy Spider Surprise

From the World of Warcraft MMORPG

 

Apologies for my recent silence, I got a bit distracted when my fiancé gifted us an Xbox 360... and, well, you can probably guess the rest. I haven’t seen a shower in months. Anyway, I’m back with another World of Warcraft recipe for you! You might remember my Barbecued Buzzard Wings from a while ago. This one is a bit more involved, but it’s totally worth the effort. It's a twist on the classic "spider" maki, a popular dish you'll find at almost every sushi restaurant in the U.S. 

 

Soft shell crabs, and crabs in general, are actually distant relatives of spiders. So, technically, when you eat them, you're eating the ocean's version of spiders... Just some casual fun facts for you to munch on, no need to thank me!

 

Don’t be intimidated if you’re not experienced with sushi; with a little time and patience, anyone can master it. All you’ll need is a sushi mat, which you can easily find online and in most grocery stores in the Asian foods section. And for all you WoW fans (or recovering addicts): After enjoying this dish, you’ll be well-fed and gain 4 Stamina and Spirit for 15 minutes.

Ingredients

For the rice:

• 3 cups cooked short-grain rice
• 2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar

 

For the "Spiders":

• 4 soft-shell crabs, cleaned
  
• 1 teaspoons salt  
• 1 teaspoon white pepper  
  
• 2 egg whites
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour  
• 3/4 cup cornstarch  
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne (optional, or to taste)
• Vegetable oil, for frying

 

For assembly:

• 4 sheets nori 
• 1 avocado, sliced 
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons sriracha sauce
• 4 green onions, sliced
• 1/4 cup microgreens (optional, or to taste)
  
• 4 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds (optional, or to taste

 

Directions

 

 

Prepare the rice: 

 

1. Add the cook rice to a large bowl. Gently stir in the seasoned rice vinegar with a spoon until combined. Cover the rice mixture and set aside.  

 

 

Prepare the "Spiders": 

 

1. Sprinkle the cleaned crabs generously with salt and black pepper. 
2. Whisk the egg whites until frothy. 
3. Add the crabs to the egg whites and toss to coat. 
4. In another bowl, whisk together the flour with cornstarch, salt, pepper, and cayenne.  
5. Heat 2 inches of oil in a large skillet or saucepan to 375°F. 
6. Set a wire rack over a baking sheet. 
7. Dredge 2 or 3 crabs at a time in flour mixture and add them to the hot oil. 
8. Fry crabs in the hot oil for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy.
9. Transfer the crabs to rack to drain. 
   

 

 

Assemble the maki roll: 

 

1. Place the nori, shiny side down, on a sushi mat covered with plastic wrap, with the short end facing you. 
2. Using moist hands, gently pat 3/4 cup of rice over the nori, leaving a 1-inch border at the top edge.  
3. Arrange 4 pieces of crab and 4 slices of avocado horizontally over the rice, ensuring the crab legs extend over the long edges of the nori. 
4. In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise and sriracha sauce, then spread it over the crab and avocado.  
5. Sprinkle 1/4 of the sliced green onions, microgreens, and sesame seeds over the filling. 
6. Lift the short edge of the nori closest to you and fold it over the filling. Gently press to keep it tight. 
7. Lift the bottom edge of the sushi mat and roll toward the top edge, pressing firmly. 
8. Once you reach the top, press the mat to seal the roll.  
9. Using a very sharp knife, slice each roll into 8 pieces. 
10. Repeat to make 3 more rolls
    
11. Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious crunchy spider surprise!

Make 4 Maki Rolls

 

 

 

 

 

This recipe has been reformatted and reworded for clarity. Some adjustments were made to the recipe for better balance, and for crunchier spiders.