Crab Linguine

Crab linguine with blue crab meat, garlic, chili, cherry tomatoes, in white wine butter sauce, finished with fresh herbs is a delicious and elegant dish that can be prepared in a few easy steps. Follow the instructions below to make this delightful meal.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. linguine pasta
• 1 lb. blue crab meat, picked and cleaned
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-2 fresh red chili peppers, minced (depending on your desired level of heat)
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh herbs (parsley, basil or thyme) for garnish

Preparation:

1. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
2. Sauté the garlic and chili: In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and chili pepper and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
3. Add the cherry tomatoes: Add the cherry tomatoes to the skillet and continue to sauté for 3-4 minutes until they begin to soften and release their juices.
4. Add the white wine: Pour in the white wine and stir to deglaze the pan. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the wine has reduced by half.
5. Add the butter: Cut the unsalted butter into small pieces and add it to the skillet, stirring constantly until it has melted and incorporated into the sauce.
6. Add the crab meat: Gently fold in the blue crab meat, being careful not to break up the delicate meat.
7. Add the pasta: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss everything together until the pasta is coated in the sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a bit of the reserved pasta water to thin it out.
8. Season and serve: Taste the dish and season with salt and pepper to your liking. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve immediately.

Tips:

• Fresh blue crab meat can be found at your local seafood market or online. If you can’t find fresh crab meat, you can use canned crab meat, but be sure to drain it well before using it.
• If you prefer a milder dish, you can omit the chili pepper or use less of it.
• The cherry tomatoes can be replaced with other types of tomatoes or even roasted red peppers for a different flavor profile.
• To make the dish more decadent, you can add a splash of heavy cream or grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce.