Rich & Flavorful Crab Oil Pasta
Rich & Flavorful Crab Oil Pasta
How to Make Authentic Crab Oil Pasta with Autumn Blue Crabs
This crab oil pasta is a delightful dish that maximizes the natural umami of the crab without relying on cream sauces, making for a satisfying and delicious meal. Today, I’ll be sharing the recipe for the crab oil pasta I recently enjoyed!
Crab Oil Pasta Ingredients- 1 Blue Crab (cleaned)
- 6 Scallops (cleaned)
- 100g Spaghetti
- 1 liter Water (for boiling pasta)
- 1 Tbsp Salt (for boiling pasta)
- 5 cloves Whole Garlic (thinly sliced)
- 1/3 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1/4 Onion (finely chopped)
- 4 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 3 Dried Chili Peppers (crushed)
- 1 Tbsp Chicken Stock
- 1/2 Tbsp Dried Basil
- 1/2 Tbsp Dried Oregano
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, bring 1 liter of water to a rolling boil with 1 tablespoon (about 10g) of salt. Once boiling, add 100g of spaghetti and cook for 8 minutes until al dente. Be careful not to overcook, as it will continue to cook in the sauce.
Step 2
While the pasta is cooking, thinly slice 5 cloves of whole garlic into about 2-3mm thick slices. Avoid slicing them too thinly so they don’t burn easily.
Step 3
Finely chop 1/4 of an onion. This will help the onion integrate smoothly into the sauce, adding a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor.
Step 4
After 8 minutes, drain the pasta using a colander. It’s a good idea to reserve about 1-2 ladles of the pasta cooking water before draining, as this starchy water can be used later to help emulsify and adjust the sauce consistency. If not needed, you can discard it.
Step 5
Heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic, chopped onion, and 1/3 tablespoon of minced garlic. Sauté for at least 2 minutes until fragrant and the onions become translucent, being careful not to burn the garlic.
Step 6
Once the onions are translucent and the garlic is aromatic, add the cleaned blue crab to the pan. Crush 3 dried chili peppers and add them for a touch of heat. Stir-fry over medium or medium-low heat for about 3 minutes, allowing the crab’s natural juices to release.
Step 7
When the crab turns a vibrant red color, add about 2 ladles of the reserved pasta water to the pan. This will form the base of your sauce. Then, add the 6 scallops. Cook until the seafood is fully cooked through and the flavors have melded into the sauce.
Step 8
Finally, add the drained spaghetti to the pan along with 1 tablespoon of chicken stock, 1/2 tablespoon of dried basil, and 1/2 tablespoon of dried oregano. Toss everything together over medium heat for about 1-2 minutes, allowing the pasta to absorb the flavorful oil and sauce until perfectly coated. Your delicious crab oil pasta is ready to be served!
