Cajun-Spiced Soft-Shell Crab Sandwich with Yellow Pepper and Caper Aioli

Ingredients

• 2 yellow bell peppers
• 1/3 cup light mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup basil leaves
• 2 tablespoons capers
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 4 (5 to 6-ounce) soft-shell crabs, cleaned
• 1 tablespoon salt-free Cajun seasoning (such as Spice Hunter)
• 1/4 cup cornmeal
• 4 (3-ounce) pieces Italian bread, cut in half lengthwise and toasted
• 4 curly leaf lettuce leaves
• 4 (1/4-inch-thick) slices red onion

Preparation

1. Preheat broiler.
2. Cut bell peppers in half lengthwise, and discard seeds and membranes. Place bell pepper halves, skin sides up, on a foil-lined baking sheet, and flatten with hand. Broil 15 minutes or until blackened. Place in a zip-top plastic bag; seal. Let stand 15 minutes. Peel.
3. Place bell pepper, mayonnaise, basil, capers, salt, and garlic in a food processor; process until smooth.
4. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle crabs with Cajun seasoning. Dredge crabs in cornmeal. Add crabs to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side, gently pressing body and legs against pan.
5. Spread 1 tablespoon mayonnaise mixture evenly over each slice of bread. Arrange 1 crab over each bottom half of bread. Top each crab with 1 lettuce leaf and 1 red onion slice. Cover with top halves of bread.