Maryland soft shell crabs are at a growth stage when the crab sheds its outer shell and must be removed from the water within a few hours of shedding before the tender skin hardens into another larger shell. Soft shell crabs are sold whole. They're in season from April to mid-September and vary in size from 4-6 inches.

To clean a soft shell crab, cut away the eyes and mouth with a sharp knife or scissors. Fold back one side of the top shell to expose the pale orange gills. Pull away and discard the gills from both sides of the crab. Turn the crab over and fold back the tail flap. Pull it away from the body and discard. The crab is now cleaned. Our soft shell crabs for sale will arrive pre-cleaned and ready to prepare.

In a large metal bowl, whisk together the wine, oil, garlic, pepper, and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Place the crabs in the bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Marinate the crabs for 15 minutes at room temperature.

Place the flour in a medium shallow bowl. Slick a very large skillet with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and place it over medium-high heat. Remove the crabs from the marinade, shake off the excess liquid, and transfer them to the bowl of flour. One at a time, coat both sides of all the crabs with flour (only a light dusting is necessary) and set aside.

Place half of the crabs into the hot skillet and sauté them for about 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until the crabs have reddened and are slightly crispy. Remove the crabs from the skillet and drizzle them with a few drops of butter, and sprinkle with a little of the parsley and some of the remaining 2 teaspoons of salt. Serve immediately.

Yield: 4 servings