Pasta with King Crab

Pasta with King Crab is a delicious and elegant meal that takes very little time to prepare. It combines sweet seafood with a light garlic and lemon sauce. This dish is perfect for a special dinner at home when you want something impressive but simple. You can use fresh or frozen crab legs for this recipe.
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Why you should make pasta with king crab

This Pasta with King Crab recipe relies on high quality ingredients to create a rich flavour. The sweetness of the crab meat pairs perfectly with the zingy lemon and spicy chilli flakes. It is a light alternative to heavy cream sauces and feels very fresh. You only need a few pantry staples to make this professional meal in your own kitchen.

Follow these simple steps for pasta with king crab

Step 1
Prepare ingredients: Boil a large pot of salted water for the pasta. Use kitchen scissors to cut the crab shells and remove the meat in large chunks. Chop the garlic finely and mince the parsley. Zest and juice the lemon so everything is ready for the pan.
Step 2
Cook pasta: Add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions. Aim for al dente texture as the pasta will cook slightly more in the sauce. Reserve a small cup of the pasta water before draining. Set the drained pasta aside for a moment.
Step 3
Sauté aromatics: Heat the olive oil and butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and chilli flakes and cook for about one minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic brown or it will become bitter. Add the king crab meat and toss it gently to heat through for two minutes.
Step 4
Combine and serve: Add the cooked pasta to the pan with the crab and garlic oil. Pour in the lemon juice, lemon zest and the reserved pasta water. Toss everything together over the heat until the sauce coats the noodles. Garnish your Pasta with King Crab with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Good advice for pasta with king crab

Always save some of the starchy pasta water to help the sauce stick to the noodles. This creates a silky texture without needing heavy cream. If you use frozen crab, make sure it is completely thawed and patted dry before adding it to the pan. You can add a splash of white wine with the garlic for extra depth of flavour.

This Pasta with King Crab works best with long pasta shapes like linguine or spaghetti. Ensure the lemon is at room temperature to get the most juice out of it. Fresh parsley adds a necessary brightness so try not to skip it. Using high quality olive oil will significantly improve the final taste of the sauce.

You can also try these recipes: roast picanha, winter salad or raspberry jam.

Ingredients

servings
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  • 400 g spaghetti
  • 500 g king crab legs
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • 1 teaspoon red chilli flakes
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 25 g unsalted butter
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 bunch of fresh parsley
  • 1 pinch of sea salt

Cooking time

Kitchen tools

Nutrition information

NUTRITIONper serving
  • Energy:2427 kJ / 580 kcal
  • Fat:21 g
  • - of which saturates:7 g
  • Carbohydrates:68 g
  • - of which sugars:2 g
  • Protein:28 g
  • Fibre:3 g
  • Salt:850 mg

People also ask

Use sharp kitchen scissors to snip along the side of the legs. Carefully peel back the shell and lift the meat out in one piece if possible. This ensures your Pasta with King Crab has large and beautiful chunks of seafood.
Yes, frozen crab is a great and convenient option for this dish. Just ensure it is fully defrosted in the fridge overnight before you start cooking. This helps the Pasta with King Crab maintain a consistent temperature and texture.
Gently heat the leftovers in a pan with a tiny splash of water or olive oil. Avoid the microwave if possible as it can make the seafood tough. Stir it constantly until it is just warm enough to eat.
What do you think of this recipe?
4.9 / 5 - (14 ratings)