Callinectes sapidus
Moqueca de siri mole (soft-shell crab stew) was a favorite dish of Vadinho, the late husband of Dona Flor. Writer Jorge Amado tells the secrets of the dish in his book: “Wash the crabs whole in lemon juice, wash them well, and then a little more, To get out all the sand without taking away the taste of the sea.” Crabs get “soft” when they are changing their shells, as they grow. The soft meat can also be used in other dishes, such as frittatas, or breaded and fried.
