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Creamy Butter Garlic Crab

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This Creamy Butter Garlic Crab is an indulgent seafood dish featuring succulent crab cooked in a rich, buttery, and garlicky cream sauce. With a hint of spice and a touch of lemon, this dish is perfect for seafood lovers and pairs beautifully with rice or crusty bread to soak up the luscious sauce.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Crab:

  • 2 large crabs (cleaned and cracked, about 1 kg total)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 5 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

For the Creamy Butter Garlic Sauce:

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • ½ cup heavy cream (or evaporated milk for a lighter version)
  • ¼ cup chicken or seafood broth
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (for depth of flavor)
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional, for richness)
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for extra creaminess)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)

Instructions

1. Prepare & Cook the Crab

  1. If using whole live crabs, steam or boil them for 5-7 minutes, then clean and crack them into manageable pieces.
  2. In a large pan, heat butter and olive oil over medium-high heat.
  3. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, sautéing for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add the crab pieces, season with salt and black pepper, and stir-fry for 5 minutes until coated in the garlic butter.

2. Make the Creamy Butter Garlic Sauce

  1. Push the crab to one side of the pan and add the remaining butter. Let it melt.
  2. Pour in the broth and cream, stirring to combine.
  3. Add Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, lemon zest, and lemon juice, mixing well.
  4. Sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese, stirring until smooth and slightly thickened (2-3 minutes).

3. Coat the Crab & Serve

  1. Toss the crab in the sauce, ensuring all pieces are well coated. Simmer for 2 minutes until flavors meld.
  2. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot with rice, pasta, or crusty bread.

Notes

  • Extra richness? Use half-and-half instead of broth.
  • No heavy cream? Substitute with coconut cream for a tropical twist.
  • Want more spice? Add 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning or extra chili flakes.

Find it online: https://ukfinda.com/creamy-butter-garlic-crab/