Description
Indulge in the exquisite flavors of homemade crab pasta! This recipe provides a step-by-step guide to creating a restaurant-quality dish with fresh crab meat, aromatic garlic, and a touch of lemon. Perfect for a special occasion or a delightful weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- Crab Meat: Fresh, high-quality lump or claw meat
- Pasta: Linguine or spaghetti
- Garlic: Minced
- Shallots: Minced (optional)
- Red Pepper Flakes: For a touch of heat
- Fresh Parsley: Chopped
- Fresh Basil or Chives: Chopped (optional)
- Olive Oil: Extra virgin
- Lemon: Fresh juice and zest
- Butter: Unsalted
- Salt and Pepper: To taste
- Parmesan Cheese: Grated (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, reserving about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Prepare the Crab: Gently pick through the crab meat to remove any shell fragments.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, sauté until fragrant (1-2 minutes).
- Create the Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss to coat. Add a splash of reserved pasta water, butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Simmer for a minute or two, allowing the sauce to emulsify.
- Combine and Serve: Gently fold in the crab meat and fresh herbs. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes
- For a richer sauce, add a splash of heavy cream or crème fraîche.
- Be careful not to overcook the crab meat, as it can become rubbery. Add it at the very end.
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to your preference for spice.
- Use high-quality, fresh ingredients for the best flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 Kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: crab pasta, crab linguine, seafood pasta, pasta recipe, easy pasta, crab recipe, lemon garlic pasta, Italian pasta, weeknight dinner, gourmet pasta