Savory Blue Crab Infused Spaghetti
Fresh blue crabs simmered with garlic, shallots, and tomatoes into a rich seafood sauce, tossed with spaghetti and crab meat for a family-favorite pasta night.
Equipment
- Large pot
- Large skillet
Ingredients
- 1 lb spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 shallots chopped (or 1 sweet onion)
- 32 oz canned chopped tomatoes or fresh tomato
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh basil chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 4 blue crabs cleaned and cracked
- 1 lb canned crab meat
- Grated parmigiana cheese for serving
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
- While the spaghetti is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped shallots or sweet onion and cook until translucent, then add minced garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add canned or fresh tomatoes to the skillet and toss to combine. Cook for 5 minutes, then add the blue crabs and let simmer for 30 minutes.
- Remove the blue crabs and set aside to cool. Add the tomato paste and half the crab meat, and simmer for another 5-10 minutes. Add the chopped parsley and basil, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the spaghetti into the skillet and toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce and coat the spaghetti evenly.
- Serve hot, garnished with grated parmigiana cheese and the remaining crab meat.