Looking for a way to make ordinary weeknight dinners extra special? Served with a simple salad and warm garlic bread, our Crab Pasta recipe will do just that! This isn’t just any pasta dish. It’s packed with sweet crab, spicy peppers, fresh lemon, and yummy garlic. These great flavors work together to make something really tasty. The best part? You can whip it up in less than 30 minutes! This recipe is just like something you’d get at a fancy restaurant, but you can easily make it at home. Say goodbye to boring dinners and hello to a simple and delicious meal!
Step By Step Instructions
Cook the Pasta: Begin by boiling a pot of salted water. Add 1 cup of your chosen pasta and let it cook until it’s slightly underdone. Before draining, reserve a half cup of the pasta water, and then set your pasta aside. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Use high-quality extra-virgin olive oil for the best flavor. If unavailable, other neutral cooking oils like canola or avocado oil could be used. Dry White Wine: Choose a good quality dry white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. If you prefer not to use alcohol, chicken broth or a mix of white grape juice and a little vinegar can be used. Piquante Peppers: Jarred Piquante peppers provide a unique tangy heat. If they’re hard to find or you’re not a fan of heat, roasted red peppers can be used. Alternativly, you can use crushed red pepper flakes. Garlic Cloves: Fresh garlic cloves give the most flavorful result. If fresh is not an option, substitute with 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder per clove. Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper has the most robust flavor. Pre-ground pepper can be used if necessary. Cooked Crab Meat: Fresh, lump crab meat is the best choice. If it’s not available, canned or frozen crab meat can serve as a decent substitute. Other shellfish, like cooked shrimp or lobster can be used as an alternative. Unsalted Butter: Opt for high-quality unsalted butter. If only salted butter is on hand, use it, but adjust the added salt in your recipe. Margarine or oil could be used but the flavor may change slightly. Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice provides the most vibrant flavor. Bottled lemon juice is a second option. In a pinch, white wine vinegar could work, but the flavor will differ. Fresh Parsley: Fresh parsley adds a nice brightness. If it’s not available, substitute with a third of the amount of dried parsley. You could also experiment with other fresh herbs like basil or cilantro for a different twist. Fresh Crab: Fresh crab is the best in flavor and texture. It’s most commonly sold whole or as lump crab meat. When buying fresh crab, look for a sweet, clean smell. Any off-odors could mean the crab isn’t fresh. Remember, crab is highly perishable, so it should be used within a day of purchase. Canned Crab: A convenient option, canned crab meat is cooked and ready to use. It’s an excellent choice for recipes where the crab flavor differs from the star, such as in dips or salads. When purchasing, opt for brands that offer lump crab meat, as it will provide a better texture and flavor. Be sure to thoroughly drain the liquid before using. Frozen Crab: Often available as crab legs or lump meat, the frozen crab can be a good middle-ground between fresh and canned. When buying frozen crab, ensure it is properly sealed and has no signs of freezer burn. It should be thawed in the refrigerator before use, not at room temperature. While not quite as good as fresh, it’s a strong alternative, especially if you don’t live near the coast. Whichever type you choose, buy from reputable sources to ensure you get good-quality crab. Enjoy cooking and savoring your crab dishes! Sauté the Garlic: Heat up 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add 8 thinly sliced garlic cloves to the skillet and sauté them until they’re fragrant and just starting to brown at the edges, which should take about 30 seconds to a minute. Simmer the Wine and Peppers: Next, pour in 1 cup of dry white wine and add 4 to 6 chopped and de-seeded Piquante peppers. Increase the heat to high and bring the mixture to a simmer. Add the Crab: Lower the heat back to medium and stir in 1 ½ pounds of cooked crab meat. Let it cook, stirring occasionally, until it’s warmed through. Combine Butter and Parsley: Now, add 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces, and 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley. Stir the mixture until it’s well combined. Simmer the Pasta in Sauce: Transfer the slightly underdone pasta into the skillet with the sauce. Let it simmer gently, allowing the pasta to finish cooking and absorb the flavorful sauce. If the pasta starts to dry out, add small amounts of the reserved pasta water. Final Touches: Lastly, add 3 tablespoons of lemon juice to the skillet. Give it a taste and add more salt if necessary. Your delicious Crab Pasta is now ready to serve! Update Notes: This recipe was originally posted in 2015. It was updated with a refreshed recipe, new content and photos in 2023. Unfortunately, this dish does not freeze well due to the texture of the pasta and crab meat, which can b Please Note: Refreezing thawed crab meat is not recommended from a food safety perspective. Refreezing can increase the risk of foodborne illnesses if the crab has been thawed for too long or in unsuitable conditions (such as at room temperature). Erren’s Kitchen is written and produced for informational intentions only. We are not certified nutritionists, and the nutritional information found on this site has not been assessed or authorized by a nutritionist or the FDA. The nutritional information found in our recipes is offered as an estimate and should not be considered a guarantee or fact. The estimated data is provided as a courtesy and calculated through a third-party online nutritional calculator, spoonacular API. Although we do our best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered rough estimates. Many factors, such as brands or products purchased and the nutritional fluctuations that naturally occur in fresh produce, can alter the effectiveness of the nutritional information in any recipe. Furthermore, various online calculators provide different results depending on their particular algorithms and nutrition fact sources. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
